Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 12th February 2015 Issue no. 660
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International News
Products EUnited Cleaning, with the support of the European Federation of Cleaning Industries (EFCI) and the International Association for Soaps, Detergents & Maintenance Products (A.I.S.E) is launching a campaign called the European Cleaning Days (ECD). IFMA's 'world-class, gold standard' FM programme earns ANSI accreditation with seven commendations The International Facility Management Association's FM credential programme has earned accreditation and seven commendations from the American National Standards Institute. ANSI, which oversees thousands of standards and guidelines that directly impact businesses in a range of sectors, accredited IFMA for the Facility Management Professional (FMP) and Sustainability Facility Professional (SFP) credentials. |
Welcome to the
Cleanzine - the original Cleaning & Hygiene industry e-news Read by industry professionals in 163 countries worldwide! Most of us are well aware that cleaning isn’t the best job in the world. It’s hard, tiring work, it tends to be underpaid for what’s involved and it generally means working anti-social hours. It can also be soul destroying in as much as a selfish facility user can – within minutes of a cleaner finishing work – completely destroy the cleanliness, hygiene levels and ambience of the area that’s been cleaned. Then, just imagine the indignity of being ignored by those about you, or having to deal with the abuse that some cleaners have to suffer as they go about their work, and you’ll have some idea of why cleaners were deserving of a special mention in the newly released Office of National Statistics report on how people’s jobs impact on alcohol-related death. I was surprised that cleaners were singled out in the report, but all things considered, it’s perhaps not surprising after all (and if you’re wondering where your job role features in the statistics, you can read the report below). In another report released today, the OSHA’s (European Agency for Safety & Health at Work) ‘Second European survey of enterprises on new & emerging risks’, notes that 6% of establishments in the EU-28, report having employees who have difficulties understanding the language spoken at the premises. Am I the only one thinking this will be the cleaners? Further, it lists risk factors – in order of importance – as: having to deal with difficult customers; tiring positions; repetitive hand or arm movements; risk of accidents with machines or hand tools; lifting or moving heavy loads; time pressure; chemical or biological substances; increased risk of slips, trips & falls; irregular working hours; poor communication; employees’ lack of influence on their workplace or work processes and discrimination… which all tend to be experienced by cleaners. I always make a point to speak with those at the sharp end of our industry, whether they’re emptying dustbins, cleaning washrooms, directing users at the local tip or collecting beer cans, plastic glasses and picnic remains at gigs and festivals. They’re doing a great job and without them the rest of us wouldn’t be able to function and showing our appreciation may do more good than we previously realised… Please get in touch either by emailing me or posting a comment on our Facebook page. www.facebook.com/Cleanzine You can also follow us on Twitter @cleanzine Yours, This Week's News
Cleaners more likely to lose their lives to alcohol than those in other work The Office of National Statistics has just released its latest analysis on the socio-economic and gender inequalities in alcohol-related deaths and it's not the best news for those that clean for a living. The latest analysis of deaths data shows substantial socio-economic and gender inequality in alcohol-related deaths among working-age adults (16-64 years). Mundipharma demonstrates efficacy of Betadine formulations against Ebola virus Singaporean manufacturer Mundipharma has announced successful results from the testing of Betadine formulations against the Ebola virus, which was undertaken at Marburg University, Germany. Betadine products have been used for skin disinfection and surgical skin preparations around the world for over 50 years and are known to have a broad antimicrobial efficacy. GenEon's technology reducing school absenteeism Although the US Environmental Protection Agency has declared that the flu outbreak this year may be one of the worst in recent history with many schools across the nation seeing record absenteeism rates, Paulding schools in Georgia and the Faith Family Academy in Dallas, Texas have documented a significant reduction of more than 10% in absenteeism rates through the use of GenEon's fast response technology. Two firms sentenced after airport worker breaks leg Two firms have been prosecuted after a worker suffered a broken leg when he deliberately steered his ride-on cleaning machine into a balustrade when the brakes failed, in an attempt to avoid hitting pedestrians in Stansted airport. Carl Marshall, 28, of Little Dunmow, Essex, was forced to veer into the central dividing balustrade after brakes on the scrubber dryer failed to respond as he rode down a sloping passenger ramp. Legionella Control publishes advice on how to appoint an authorising engineer An internationally recognised legionella risk management group has released expert advice guiding institutions on how to appoint a water services authorising engineer. Targeting hospitals, healthcare environments, multi-site property portfolios and other large facilities at risk of waterborne diseases, Legionella Control International has revealed need to know tips on how to select the best candidate. ETS chairman Roberto Berardi to detail tissue market prospects at Tissue World The superior hygiene performance of tissue products and the benefits they present will be discussed by ETS chairman, Roberto Berardi, as a guest speaker at Tissue World, which is taking place from 17th - 19th March 2015, Fira Barcelona, Spain. The presentation will take place at midday on March 17th and will reference the latest scientific studies which showed that some jet air and warm hand dryers can disperse bacteria into the air and onto users and bystanders. This has significant implications for cleaning, facilities and hospitality managers responsible for equipping washrooms in public places. Kyran Bracken, Former England Scrum Half (boasting 51 caps) and ITV's Dancing on Ice champion in 2007, will present a motivational Keynote Presentation on the opening morning of the Cleaning Show 2015, to - potentially - visitors from 57 nations, since an analysis of the 5,000 people who have pre-registered to attend the show, shows a spread of visitors from 57 different countries. Though plagued with injury, Kyran earned 170 Saracens caps and 50 for England, including his major contribution to England's World Cup win in 2003. Tech hygiene became a reality at CES 2015 If there was any doubt that 'tech' hygiene was one of the major story lines of last month's CES 2015, the electronics and technology show, it was put to rest this week with the announcement by Canadian manufacturer Whoosh! CEO Jason Greenspan that an estimated 10,000 mobile device screens were cleaned and polished with Whoosh! Screen Shine throughout the four-day event. MITIE to address 'momentous changes' in future working practices MITIE, the facilities management company, has announced details of its keynote address at The Cleaning Show 2015, entitled 'How will you be working in 2020?' The address will consider groundbreaking changes taking place in the cleaning industry, particularly the impact of agile working practices on commercial property and emerging technologies. It will also examine how cleaning contractors and their workforces need to widen their skill sets to cope with the changes. Portable Sanitation Expo to donate £1 to charity for every visitor For every industry visitor attending this year's Portable Sanitation Expo, £1 has been pledged to Beating Bowel Cancer; a UK charity that supports and campaigns for everyone affected by bowel cancer. The expo will be taking place at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry on 25th and 26th February 2015, and is the only event 100% dedicated to the ever-expanding portable sanitation sector. Voting with their feet paid off for Bulgarians A news report on Bulgarian TV that a train's cleanliness had been so poor that it had forced some passengers to seek an alternative means of travel has led to some much needed changes, reports the Focus Information Agency. "We will improve the control and organisation connected with hygiene on trains," said Dimitar Kostadinov, manager of the passenger services division at Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ), speaking at a press conference. "A separate cleaning department was established last July with its own director and administration." Sodexo sets benchmark for corporate responsibility leadership Headquartered in France, cleaning & FM giant Sodexo has been ranked, for the eighth consecutive year, as the best-performing company for Economic, Social and Environmental performance in the benchmark RobecoSAM 'Sustainability Yearbook 2015' as Industry Leader and Gold Class. For each industry, the company with the highest score is named the RobecoSAM Industry Leader, and is considered to be the company within its industry that is best prepared to seize the opportunities and manage the risks deriving from economic, social and environmental developments. 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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clicking the link above. Hospital Hygiene 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
BSA 'Responsible Cleaner Scheme' published
System Hygienics awarded a three-year contract at Papworth Hospital
Papworth Hospital is the UK's largest specialist cardiothoracic hospital and the country's main heart and lung transplant centre, treating over 23,700 inpatient and day cases and 65,000 outpatients each year from across the UK. Over 200,000 waste-related jobs could be needed, reveals study published yesterday
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Vectair Systems launches YouTube channel to showcase its new range of product videos
Cordant Services launches with £multi-million investment
MITIE awarded facilities management contract by Turner Broadcasting
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