Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 11th October 2012 Issue no. 541
Your industry news - first
The original and best - for over 20 years!
We strongly recommend viewing Cleanzine full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.
Please note that you are viewing an archived issue of The Cleanzine.
|
International News
Products REACH benefits not obvious yet, EU admits The REACH chemical safety regulations have so far showed limited results, with only "anecdotal evidence" that industry was starting to phase out the most dangerous substances, the European Commission said ahead of a review of the legislation due later this month, reports EurActiv. The Hako Virtual Adviser: a stroke of genius!
Vectair Systems unveils a new generation of handcare dispensers
|
Welcome to the
Cleanzine - the original Cleaning & Hygiene industry e-news Read by industry professionals in 148 countries worldwide! My goodness last week's leader prompted some responses! Most of the callers and emailers wished to remain anonymous (some sadly still have sick relatives in hospital) but each and every one of them - whichever part of the 'civilised' world they hailed from - had a horror story to share. Thank you everyone that got in touch! Those I spoke to heard a little more about my experiences, in as much as I'd watched a nurse - who admittedly had experienced a hellish night - mopping up a great quantity of spilled urine from an overturned commode with a mop and bucket, but without first having retrieved urine-soaked items from the floor. Of course it never occurred to her that once she'd rung out the mop using the strainer at the top of the bucket, then dipped the mop back into the urine-contaminated soapy water, she was spreading the urine around the room rather than cleaning it up. Nor did it occur to her to move the furniture and clean its feet before returning it to position and cleaning the area again. Nor did it occur to her that once the urine-soaked items were picked up, urine would drip back onto the 'cleaned' floor. But then of course she wouldn't , would she, as it wasn't her job? As well as feeling that there appeared to be a lack of training amongst the cleaners and that nurses shouldn't have to add cleaning to their job descriptions, everyone was in agreement about my comments regarding the shiny floors which seem to be cleaned at the expense of other areas, creating an illusion of 'clean'. One - from Australia - confessed that his main concern was that 'hot spots', such as bedside telephones, TV remote controls, door handles, tray tables etc don't seem to be cleaned - and of course these are likely to be teeming with bacteria. His input reminded me of the amount of technical equipment that is commonplace in modern hospitals and how often I've observed that this alone will make a hospital much more difficult to clean. My comments also prompted a response in the form of a very clever and outspoken technical article from experienced consultant Mary de Cobos, on the cleaning of hospitals. To learn where and why we are getting it so wrong, make sure you read Mary's article below. And if you have any further comments on the above, I'd be happy to receive them...
Yours,
      This Week's News
Sewage waste to become plastic
We have Mail: Hospital cleaning Dear Jan, Nice leader last week and your thoughts are spot on. We were able to see the accuracy of these in another part of the country when we were doing some expert witness research and work as part of a legal action we got called in to advise on. As expert witnesses, we also got to view the work and training package of one of the co-respondents. It's not a pretty picture at all. Here's what's wrong: - Everything/everyone has safety procedures taking priority - except that there didn't seem to be any training in cleaning itself - the hows, whys and wherefores of the cleaning procedure. So the knowledge of the operator was pushed down to the lowest common denominator, where he/she didn't have to think about anything. The system was designed more for a robot than a thinking person. No decisions were required about anything. It was a case of, "Just do your job which we have laid out for you and have done with". This is a reactive system - and they always fail. The company health & safety rules we're dealing with, never stopped a very big legal action
Ryans ploughs through a clean 10 years
Training flexibility with the WoolSafe Academy Professional cleaners and carpet care specialists who want to further their knowledge without sacrificing precious time are encouraged to enrol with the new online training centre from the WoolSafe Organisation. Launched this month, the cutting-edge WoolSafe Academy provides comprehensive training courses that offer the ultimate in flexibility. Edge set to unveil "the first truly portable industrial steam cleaner"
Assign - next-generation mobile and field workforce scheduling software launched
Emprise bulks up its gym cleaning portfolio
Ausclean WA is looking for presenters - can you fill the role?
Sessions covering hygiene in healthcare and hospitals, green sustainability, new technology and outdoor cleaning are all welcome, as are marketing, communication and business sessions. Korean airforce chooses RCM sweepers
Asfel is looking forward to 2013 export promotion The Spanish Association of cleaning & hygiene manufacturers - ASFEL - is preparing its Trade Promotion Plan for next year. Like every year, these actions are supported by the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade - ICEX - and are voted for via a questionnaire distributed amongst the association's members. Irish manufacturer seeks distributors
Funding announced to increase recycling rate in Scotland Speaking at the Scottish Waste & Resources Conference in Glasgow recently, Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead announced an additional £1.2 million of funding would be available to help councils in Scotland reach the 50% recycling target set for the end of 2013. Tickets selling fast for 25th Anniversary Loo of the Year Awards presentation extravaganza!
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:
|
    REQUEST THE CLEANZINE HERE The Cleanzine is broadcast
every Thursday. You may receive it FREE each week by
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
Selden acquires Jeyes Professional Division
Sweeping away a feather fiasco
Gum success for Newham Council
Karcher repeats popular £100 cashback scheme
New features on offer at The Cleaning Show 2013
Kensington & Chelsea SITA street cleaners to be balloted for strike action over pay On Monday, GMB, the union for public services workers in the UK, gave notice of an official ballot for strike action for 70 GMB members employed by contractor SITA on the street cleansing contract with Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (RBKC) - the most affluent borough in London - in a dispute over pay. |
