Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 25th April 2013 Issue no. 569
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  International News
Products New study examines possible contamination from hand drying methods
ECHA - online quiz tests your knowledge on new hazard pictograms The European Chemical Agency has launched an interactive quiz on the new pictograms for the labelling of hazardous chemicals in the EU introduced by the (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) Regulation. A research by ECHA shows that many of these pictograms are not yet recognised or properly understood. New Biocidal Products regs: last chance to influence regulatory framework! At the Steptoe seminar on the new Biocidal Products Regulation, (EU) No 528/2012 (BPR) held two weeks ago, the European Commission confirmed its intention to seek accelerated agreement on a legislative amendment to the BPR. If prompt consensus can be reached with the Council and the European Parliament, the changes will take effect before the new regime becomes applicable on 1st September 2013. As with REACH, the new biocides regime is relevant not only to manufacturers and formulators of biocides, but downstream users as well. Ausclean Pulire is looking for presenters – can you fill the role? If you are at the leading edge of cleaning and hygiene, ensure your experience is shared – submit an application to present a paper at Australia’s well-established, dedicated cleaning and hygiene show. Sessions covering hygiene in healthcare and hospitals, green sustainability, new technology and outdoor cleaning are all welcome – as are marketing, communication and business sessions. The call for presenters closes 1st May. |
Welcome to the
Cleanzine - the original Cleaning & Hygiene industry e-news Read by industry professionals in 148 countries worldwide! It was more than 10 years ago that I represented the Association of Building Cleaning Direct Service Providers (ABCD) at Cleaning Industry National Training Organisation meetings. The main issue at the time was how to persuade the industry to contribute the money required by Government, to enable us to be considered as one of the new Sector Skills Councils - and thus receive a share from a huge pot of funding for the training and education of those in the industry. It soon became clear that we would miss the target, so we looked at finding another, similar industry with which we could pool resources. Eventually the foundations were laid for what was to become Asset Skills, 'The employer-led skills body for facilities management, housing, property, planning, cleaning & parking'. It soon joined other bodies such as the ABCD and the Cleaning & Support Services Association in the industry's ever-growing 'umbrella' organisation - the British Cleaning Council. Local authority cleaning has changed considerably over recent years with some authorities contracting out work that had previously been carried out in-house. Further changes enabled those responsible for in-house cleaning departments to run them as businesses, which allowed them to bid against private contractors as well as other local authority teams for local government cleaning contracts. Thus, the roles of the two main industry bodies responsible for cleaning, blurred. It had been rumoured that important changes were being considered by major industry players and it was announced this week that Asset Skills and the CSSA are discussing merger plans. I am not the only one thinking that things are coming full circle - with fewer of the divisions for which the industry has been mocked, holding us back - as you will see when you read about the proposed merger below...
Yours,
       This Week's News
Asset Skills and the CSSA announce merger plans Asset Skills, the industry skills body for facilities management and cleaning, has reached an agreement in principle with the Cleaning & Support Services Association to look into the benefits of merging the operations of each organisation. The two organisations have developed a close working relationship over the past 10 years and there is considerable overlap in the employers they represent. The aim is to achieve this goal within the next six months; however a final decision will not take place without the approval of CSSA members and an Extraordinary General Meeting will be arranged for members at an appropriate time. 190 Cleaning Services firms braced for takeover The cleaning services Industry should brace itself for takeovers as a series of curious circumstances begin to shape the industry, argues a new market report from analysts Plimsoll Publishing.
The study warns that a combination of stock piling cash, difficult growth, low interest rates and ageing directors has left these 190 companies ripe for acquisition as the sector consolidates, evolves and starts to prosper again. We have Mail: communication is the key writes John Laws of the Australian Cleaning Contractors' Alliance, on a subject of interest to contractors all over the globe: "Last month I went to Fremantle, in the land of giants (WA), and spoke at the Ausclean Trade Show on the subject of 'Costing an Hour's Labour and its Relationship to Subcontracting.' Matrix Industrial Range of steamers now completed
Unger launches HiFlo Control Complete On / Off switch for water fed poles
We have Mail: Any idiot can clean? With reference to your recent lead article (Any idiot can clean? www.facebook.com/Cleanzine), those of us connected to the cleaning industry are blighted before we even start. Skilled professionals in all their individual areas, (engineers, surgeons, pilots etc) are respected for their skill, their knowledge, and their application. We all admire them, but unfortunately every adult on the planet is a cleaner!! All have been made to clean at some time in their life at home, or in their personal environment, and they think they are now experts, so when a professional cleaner performs, he or she is facing silent but intense scrutiny from the outset. ABCD Seminar 'Trading and Charging' The Association of Building Cleaning Direct Service Providers has organised a seminar which explores the best ways for local authority cleaning service providers to maximise the income they receive from the services they provide.
It will be presented by renowned speaker on this subject - Andy Mudd, Principal Consultant - Association for Public Service Excellence. "Most service providers in the UK, where services are provided to the public sector are feeling the squeeze," says Patricia Wherton ABCD General Secretary. Ecolab to acquire Purate business from AkzoNobel Ecolab has reached an agreement to acquire AkzoNobel's Purate business, which specialises in global antimicrobial water treatment technology. With 2012 revenue of approximately $23 million, the Purate business provides patented, proprietary chlorine dioxide programmes for use in a wide array of water treatment applications. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory clearances and other standard closing conditions. Making food safety commitments you can stick to
Karcher cleans a true London landmark
Get Waste Smart at the Facilities Show 2013 With many FM professionals facing recycling and waste reduction targets in their jobs, and with new responsibilities coming in due to the EU Waste Framework Directive, sustainable waste management and resource efficiency are moving fast up the FM sector agenda. The drive for profitability is integral to every business, and optimising resource management by putting in place more sustainable waste practices not only reduces bottom-line costs and improves competitiveness, but also boosts green credentials by minimising any environmental impact. Guests expect a 'Spring Clean' standard all year round from hospitality operators
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
New Saniflo MD predicts success
Disposables UK comes to the rescue of South Yorkshire Fire Service
Prochem expands training programme with in-depth stain removal course for 2013
EMS raises the bar on ambulance cleanliness and infection control
Contract cleaning market switches to specialised in 2013 A new report on the UK contract cleaning market from MTW Research has found that 60% of UK contract cleaners experienced growth in the last 12 months, supporting the recent industry shift toward more specialist cleaning to boost revenue. Report offered to Cleanzine readers at discounted price A new report on the UK contract cleaning market just published by MTW Research is being offered to Cleanzine readers at a discounted price of 20% off the current website prices. The offer is open until 31st May 2013. Market size, trends & shares 2007-2017 are included for: - Specialised Cleaning MITIE's cleaning & environmental business renamed Environmental +
Prochem widens specialist solutions offer
Cleaning Show 2013: A Great Success - it's official! An impressive 11,341 visitors attended this year's Cleaning Show, making the three day event which closed its doors on Thursday, 21st March a great success for both visitors and exhibitors alike. New report shows cleanliness rated as top concern in fitness sector A new report, which demonstrates how cleaning can contribute to a significant increase in member satisfaction in the fitness industry, has been published by support services provider Emprise. Contents of vacuum cleaner left to fester over weekend cause explosive reaction! An industrial vacuum cleaner that had been used to clean up aluminium powder and was left unemptied for the weekend, provided the perfect incubation chamber... The powder reacted with water that was also inside the machine, creating a cloud of hydrogen gas that exploded and burned an unsuspecting worker who switched on the machine the following Monday. The 27 year-old employee, who suffered burns to the top of his body, was in hospital for two weeks and off work for three months. Deliberately disabled safety mechanisms lead to fine for recycling firm A Durham recycling firm has been fined for putting workers' lives at risk after two machines were found to have vital safety mechanisms deliberately disabled. Initial Facilities plans scheme to create 80 apprenticeships
Cleaning supplies director scoops Surrey award
Easy Clean Commode wins Good Design award
Avica further improves customer service levels
Truvox Multiwash provides safety first at Horsham Hospital
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