Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 21st July 2022 Issue no. 1026
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   International News
Products Vectair Systems appoints Chelsey Schwartz as vice president of marketing
 Tips on using citric acid cleaning solutions
However, to take advantage of the benefits of citric acid cleaning solutions, sanitisers and disinfectants, cleaning professionals should be aware of the following do's and don'ts.
New AI app helps track cleaning competence
RAS partners with Ascendo Academy on a restroom inspection course
UMF names Lisa Gross National Hygiene Specialist Excellence Award recipient
Susanne Jorgensen to succeed ISS Americas CEO Dan Ryan, effective 1 July 2022
Ecoserv Group introduces monitored waste management
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Welcome to the Cleanzine
Over the past couple of years I’ve occasionally used these Leaders to comment on concerns regarding the PPE issued to frontline workers to help protect them from catching and/or transmitting Covid-19. These concerns involved whether the PPE was fit for purpose, its cost and the way in which the contracts to supply had been awarded. I’m in the industry but daresay that even someone who isn’t, might have wondered how some companies that had previously been involved in a completely different industry, had managed to rapidly set up or alter production facilities to produce PPE which Government buyers deemed a better deal than that being offered by seasoned suppliers. By ‘better deal’ I don’t only mean price, but quality too – for surely under the circumstances, quality should have been a crucial consideration. Yes – demand did quickly start to outstrip supply and often stocks will have gone to the highest bidder… Alternatives needed to be found and fast, but what happened to common sense?
Those in our industry were well placed to ask the right questions and I can recall applauding the ISSA when it announced that it was to work with the PPE Fraud Coalition to challenge the US Government over its ‘unfathomable procurement failures’. The two bodies were hoping to prevent future ‘fraudulent’ transactions and recover the $millions lost. I said we should be doing the same in the UK and indeed anywhere else that appeared to have experienced procurement issues – and, sometimes, fraud.
I’ve not had an update on the ISSA/PPE Fraud Coalition’s progress but the UK Parliament’s Committee of Public Accounts has finally released its report into the management of PPE contracts. As well as tackling important questions regarding supply chain security for the future, this report discusses the huge challenge faced by Government to manage ‘a stockpile of PPE which includes billions of items that are unusable or not needed’, whilst fighting disputes with PPE suppliers on 176 contracts. Apparently, little has been done to address the alleged fraud and up to £2.7billion of taxpayers’ money is at risk. How on earth has this situation been allowed to happen?
The full report is available for download at: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications while a quick overview can be found at: https://publications.parliament.uk It's an interesting read.
Yours,
    This Week's News
Cleanology launches new industry fundraiser event to tackle hygiene poverty
In September 2021, Cleanology held its first charity event which raised over £14,000 for The Hygiene Bank, a national charity that alleviates poverty by providing hygiene products to those in need.
"ACI recognises the need to mitigate the impacts associated with the creation, use and disposal of our product packaging," wrote Nathan Sell, ACI senior director, sustainability, in a letter to chairman Tonko and Ranking Member McKinley. "Cleaning product packaging is designed to protect the health and safety, while also ensuring safe transport, storage and use of cleaning products during all stages of a product's lifecycle." Keep employees safe in hot weather
With England having experienced its first ever red warning for extreme heat this week and much of continental Europe even hotter, it's clear that raised temperatures in the workplace have the potential to become a health & safety issue as employers struggle to keep working areas within the recommended temperatures. New air duct cleaning machine features increased power and next generation smart technology
"The revolutionary new technology that the BrushBeast DR features is taking air duct cleaning to the next level," says Bob Elledge, president and CEO of Rotobrush International. "Rotobrush is always looking to improve our products. We want to design equipment that not only is portable and powerful, but also is easier to operate. We have accomplished that with the BrushBeast DR."  Kingdom Cleaning promotes former apprentice to bid support admin
 Phs Group and GreenTeck Global bring Ecoflow Innovation to UK Washroom Sector
Using innovative, patented, diamond flow-cell technology, Ecoflow converts ordinary tap water on demand into ozonated water; a natural, chemical-free liquid with strong oxidisation properties. The reduced maintenance requirements or need for additional products, such as cistern sanitisers and air fresheners, make it ideal for high footfall areas, from train stations and shopping centres to schools and stadia. ISS and Danske Bank extend partnership
ISS has delivered services to Danske Bank for many years and became integrated facility service partner for the bank in 2015. With the new extension, ISS will continue to be the main service provider on a number of services, including facilities management, cleaning, technical, food and support services. Sellafield cleaning contract leads to bigger things
The IAC framework covers core construction and asset care services at Sellafield, the UK's most complex nuclear site, and replaces the old Operation Site Works framework. Eluceda develops novel Hydrogen Peroxide test for paper & board sector
The new technology solution is the latest in a line of tests that uses Eluceda's established E-Sens handheld detectors and is capable of detecting hydrogen peroxide in water at concentrations between one and 1000 parts per million. 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
Cleaning industry body angered by lack of response to its letters to Cabinet Secretary
BICSc Awards: shortlist of finalists revealed
The shortlist of finalists for the British Institute of Cleaning Science Awards 2022, which celebrate the exceptional efforts of leading lights from the professional cleaning industry, has been announced. The organisation was inundated with entries for these popular annual Awards TV presenter and former England international rugby player Martin Bayfield is the celebrity host for the Awards – an event renowned as one of the largest and most influential in the cleaning industry's calendar. Strike averted as cleaners win inflation-busting pay rise
Latin American cleaners from Ecuador and Bolivia who work at Riverside Quarter, a large luxury residence in Wandsworth, London, have won a 16% pay rise bringing them up to £11.05 an hour from their previous rate of £9.50, the national minimum wage.
This pay rise comes after the cleaners, who are United Voices of the World members, voted to take strike action, with 100% of the UVW cleaners balloted, voting to strike.
Mitie appointed supplier to new Government FM and workplace services framework
Jangro enhances health & safety training module
London's Pride: biggest clean-up operation to date
Sodexo becomes official Supporter of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter
SOAPBOX: Back to normal? No thank you!
“Following two years of upheaval, we constantly hear the desire to return to normality, but do we really want that? At the outbreak of the pandemic, it has to be said the cleaning industry was underprepared; cleaning processes were inadequate for the new challenges, and cleaning companies did not hold the necessary equipment to enable the creation of a safe environment. The cleaning industry quickly took stock, and rose to the task, but several problems remained. |
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