Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 15th September 2011 Issue no. 487
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Welcome to the
Cleanzine - the original Cleaning & Hygiene industry e-news Read by industry professionals in 148 countries worldwide! We're in a spot of bother, aren't we? The world economy is faltering... a global slowdown is predicted, Europe is struggling with a sovereign debt crisis, there are real fears that Greece will default on its debt... US retail sales have stagnated and the country's debt has been downgraded... Italy's borrowing costs have hit a new high... New figures reveal that UK unemployment has hit 2.51 million - rising by 80,000 in the three months to July - the largest increase in nearly two years... the Consumer Price Index inflation rate rose to 4.5% in August (bad I know, but not as bad as the 8.78% that India is having to deal with) and London tube and bus fares are set to rise by 7% in 2012... Now the UK's public sector trade unions have called for a 'day of action' for 30th November, which will disrupt public services everywhere. It is likely to be the first of many. Yes - the Government's decision to increase public sector workers' pension contribution payments is going to make life difficult for those concerned, who will work for longer but receive lower pensions. But public sector pensions are far better than most in the private sector and we need a system that is fair to all taxpayers. There isn't enough money to sustain these pensions as they are and with our ageing population the affordability will only lessen. Something has to be done to stop everything going further out of kilter. Our country's struggling but this union action will bring it to its knees. We should all pull together to turn things around - not scrap amongst ourselves. Yes things are difficult, but those of us who have jobs and the opportunity to earn money are the lucky ones... far luckier than the unemployed and many of those who are now in retirement following years working in the private sector, whose pensions force them to choose between heating their houses and having a hot meal. The unions are demanding justice, but I wonder how their members and the jobs they have at present will fare, if companies that are already on the brink end up folding because their staff are prevented from working because of the strikes? The GMB's Brian Strutton, has threatened: "We're not talking about a day out and a protest. We're talking about something that's long and hard and dirty, because this is going to require days of action running through the winter, through into next year...right into the summer." Proposing a motion backing mass strikes to the Trades Union Congress conference recently, Unison leader Dave Prentis said: "It's the fight of our lives... make no mistake, this is it." Yes it is, but I don't think Mr Prentis has stopped to think about the impact this fight will have on our nation's ability to pull itself out of the mire in which it finds itself. Yours,
  This Week's News
A decade after September 11, room to improved emergency preparedness say FM professionals Some 88% of facilities management professionals consider their workplaces better prepared for an emergency situation than in 2001 - with fewer than 2% saying they are less prepared - according to the results of an International Facility Management Association emergency preparedness survey. Additionally, 91% report having emergency evacuation procedures in place, while 80% say their organisation has a crisis communication and disaster recovery plan. UK's C diff deaths down by 31% The national office of statistics has announced that the number of death certificates mentioning Clostridium difficile infection in England and Wales decreased by 31% in 2010, down to 2,704 from 3,933 in 2009. A total of 42% of death certificates referenced C. difficile in 2010, where the infection was recorded as the underlying cause of mortality. This figure compares favourably to the median of 49% over the period 1999 to 2010. UK Contract Cleaning Market - optimism for 2012 A new report on the Contract Cleaning market from MTW Research suggests that the industry is on track for above inflationbgrowth from mid 2012, with specialist cleaning services in particular set to drive market value in the near term.
Based on sales data for more than 80% of the industry value, the findings suggest that whilst business confidence remains fragile in 2011 growth of 2% is likely for this year, with opportunities for improved margins becoming more tangible in 2012. Gatwick gets Green Apple award
The awards will be presented to winners at a ceremony in the House of Commons on November 14th, 2011. They are invited to have their winning paper published in The Green Book, the leading international work of reference on environmental best practice, and will also be considered to represent their country in the European Business Awards for the Environment. Keeping flexible with Numatic...
Available in 4 individual styles including "All Terrain" versions, with a wide range of additional kits it is a truly versatile system. Visitors wrecking attempts to keep Indian hospital clean Attempts to keep the 19.4-acre Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, India, are being thwarted by the disrespect shown by some 10,000-odd out-patients and visitors, who litter the place with plastic bags, covers and paper waste - and even attend nature's call in the open, reports The Hindu. The publication also reveals that CMCH employees must take some of the blame, as bedding material, unused cots and the like have been dumped in the grounds too! Ecolab introduces new cleaning formulations for food industry CIP Ecolab has this week introduced Mip, a product line of 10 new cleaning formulations that deliver maximum cleaning efficacy and optimal environmental performance in the Food and Beverage industries. The new range is intended to completely replace Ecolab's current caustic-based clean-in-place cleaners and will be available throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) during the fourth quarter 2011. The new formulations cover all CIP applications such as tank, pipe and process equipment. In addition, they meet all REACH requirements and new Chemical Labelling & Packaging (CLP) regulations. These innovative formulations also have a patent-pending composition that optimises environmental performance as they are used within the processing environment. PPC's new storm pad Re-vives cathedral floor!
One company that has experienced the benefits of the new 400grit Storm Diamond Pads is Re-vive Stonecare in Essex (www.re-vive.co.uk), the stone cleaning and restoration company specialising in cleaning and resealing, grinding and polishing; marble, limestone, terrazzo, slate and natural stone. Panztel brushes off the recession
Local authorities and other organisations in the public sector have been at the forefront of this trend with cleaning, maintenance, security, social care and many other services now undertaken by agency staff, outside contractors and specialist independent providers. With this has come a rapidly rising demand to monitor and control this 'remote' workforce. Truvox burnisher goes on safari
To maintain a full high gloss on the marble floor, while carrying out maintenance during daylight hours, the management of West Midlands Safari Park purchased one of the recently introduced Truvox Orbis UHS cordless burnishers, through Janitorial Direct in nearby Kidderminster. Janitorial Direct Managing Director Julian Gaze says that From rags to riches and Royal praise
Mark, aged 23 and his brother Graham, 21 set up their business in Toxteth, Liverpool, just after the riots when jobs were very scarce. They bought clothes from charity shops and turned them into wiping cloths for engineering works and garages. The company widened its horizons and today Wray Brothers, is a Member of Jangro, the national network of over 40 janitorial and cleaning supplies companies offering 4,500 products from a 138-page catalogue. US automotive aftermarket contributes to a cleaner environment The US automotive aftermarket's commitment to widespread environmental practices is featured in a new portfolio developed by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association. The portfolio, online and in printed format, is designed to build awareness of the industry's extensive contributions to a cleaner environment and is part of AAIA's initiative, 'Driving Toward a Cleaner Environment: The Automotive Aftermarket's Green Story'. The automotive aftermarket's common environmental practices in the areas of recycling, disposal, packaging, transportation and facilities management are consolidated in the portfolio. It currently highlights the industry's efforts in recycling used engine oil and oil filters, batteries, tyres, parts cleaning solvents, scrap metal, cardboard and paper, wood pallets, CHSA Educational Scholarships 2011 announced
Employees and the families of all CHSA member companies are eligible to apply for a bursary of up to £3750 as a contribution to their higher education costs at a time when financial pressures on students have never been greater. 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
Train windows, a breakthrough (not literally!) For as long as trains have had windows, there have been problems with both getting them clean and keeping them clean. Say to anybody the words 'train windows' and their immediate response is "Dirty." After a lot of development and testing there is now a simple, but effective solution that does not require outside contractors. It is a 'spin off' from the Ship's Bridge Window technology from Kleentec Marine. T: Mark on 01772 512343 BTA Conference Wednesday 21st September There has never been a more important time to discuss toilets! The British Toilet Association needs your input! |
