Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 20th November 2014 Issue no. 650
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Cleanzine - the original Cleaning & Hygiene industry e-news Read by industry professionals in 163 countries worldwide! My daughter Melissa normally returns from trips to the town centre smiling thanks to the new outfit she’s picked up from the charity shop while donating her own unwanted things, but this week she came back decidedly disgruntled. “Why should I search the entire shopping centre for a bin for my banana skin?” she demanded to know. “I ended up having to use the nappy bin in the toilets!” I was still giving myself a virtual pat on the back over having brought her up rather well (not only regarding litter but also on the need to recycle) when she answered the question herself: “So terrorists can’t hide bombs in them – I know!” she said. “But what are we supposed to do with our rubbish?” I know I’m always saying we need to take our litter home with us but when I do I’m thinking about dry things, such as packaging and sweet wrappers. I’d never considered anyone having to carry a sticky, smelly banana skin around and with more and more of us avoiding plastic bags and instead taking our own reusable cloth bags out shopping, that doesn’t actually leave us with anything decent in which to carry wet or sticky rubbish home, does it? And with so many of our nation’s public washrooms closing down (the council has finally sold our toilets in the village and they’re being turned into two tiny apartments), how likely are we to be able to find one that’s actually open so we can deposit our rubbish in their bins, if the shopping centres have shut for the night? The British Toilet Association has for many years campaigned to not only keep our public washrooms open, but to improve them, and it promotes a wonderful initiative that’s been running for almost 30 years – the annual Loo of the Year Awards. Organiser Mike Bone, tells me there are still a few seats available at this year’s awards extravaganza, so if you want to help celebrate the best in public washroom provision and learn more about joining the campaign to keep our nation’s washrooms open, don’t miss the news item below… Please get in touch either by emailing me or posting a comment on our Facebook page. www.facebook.com/Cleanzine
Yours,
      This Week's News
Summaries of a study on the antibacterial ingredient Triclosan grossly misrepresent what the research actually found, according to the American Cleaning Institute. Independent scientists at the UK-based Science Media Centre also took issue with some of conclusions of the study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which claim that Triclosan could negatively affect human health. IEHA and K-CP launch new recognition programme for housekeeping professionals The International Executive Housekeepers Association and Kimberly-Clark Professional have announced the launch of the Heart of Hospitality Programme, aimed at providing executive housekeepers with the tools and resources to educate, empower and recognise housekeeping staff.
As the cornerstone of the programme, an annual Heart of Hospitality Award will be given to recognise exceptional housekeepers who enhance the hotel guest experience. EU-ECHA - Restrictions on chemicals are focus of new enforcement project At its recent plenary meeting, the Forum for Exchange of Information on Enforcement decided that its next major project will focus on enforcing REACH Annex XVII restrictions, the scope of which will be determined early 2015. Inspections will then take place during 2016. The final report will become available in 2017. A smaller scale project will follow up specific cases where ECHA has identified deficiencies in harmonised classification and labelling. These will focus on substances with CMR or sensitising properties. The report is expected in the first half of 2016. 100% captive audience for your products!
Restroom Association (Singapore) unveils plans for higher washroom standards on World Toilet Day
RAS also laid down plans for next year to initiate a World Toilet Day Fund and World Toilet Day Forum for schools and a 3-year public engagement campaign on clean coffee shop and hawker centre toilets. More details will be made available at a later date. Rethinking sanitation in support of World Toilet Day
2013 revenue down for 51.5% of Italian companies, reports AfidampCom A survey of the Italian professional cleaning market relative to the year 2013, conducted by AfidampCom, shows the increase in the percentage of companies that claim to have suffered a decrease in revenue from 2013 to 2012: 44.4% in 2012 versus 51.5% in 2013, with a change of seven percentage points.
Despite these figures, those interviewed displayed cautious optimism for 2014 estimates. To grow their markets, cleaning professionals will focus on optimising sales, with a focus on new technologies, and on service. HyGreen collaborates with healthcare professionals to develop Ebola preparedness plans
"It is noteworthy that enveloped viruses are highly susceptible to good hand hygiene, hydrogen peroxide vapor and commonly used cleaning agents," says the company's president, Ron Youngblood. Zehnder Clean Air Solutions can reduce manual cleaning costs by as much as 70%
Additional benefits include a reduction in absenteeism though improved indoor air quality for employees, decreased machinery maintenance costs, plus the improved performance of existing HVAC and dehumidification equipment. TNT Unlimited president wins Thomas W. Valentino Achievement Award
Vectair Systems is a global hygiene company operating in over 120 countries. In particular, Vectair Systems is an expert and innovator in odour control and aircare, skincare and hand washing, surface care, feminine hygiene sanitary waste disposal, infant care and products specifically designed for the 'away from home' washroom. Nearly half of people 'unhappy with their workplace standards', reveals PHS survey New research commissioned by PHS Group, a leading UK provider of workplace services, has revealed that 48% of people are unhappy with the hygiene standard of their workplace.
With 88% reporting that the standard of their workplace impacts on their productivity, PHS Group believes that it is now time for organisations to take note. EziTracker now used by 25,000 MITIE staff
Within 18 months EziTracker was being used by 8,000 employees across MITIE's cleaning business and uptake has steadily increased to the point where it is now considered a vital component in the contractor's vast reporting programme. New report shows how healthy workplaces are managing stress One-quarter of workers in Europe report feeling stressed at work all or most of the time - and a similar proportion say that work affects their health negatively. Psychosocial risks; for example, monotonous tasks, high work intensity, tight deadlines, work-life imbalance, violence and harassment from the public or from colleagues, contribute to work-related stress.
A new report, published as part of a Europe-wide campaign Healthy Workplaces Manage Stress gives a broad overview on psychosocial risks at European workplaces and gives examples on the way forward at political as well as company level -all illustrated with real-life examples and case studies. Nanopool GmbH considerably expands presence in Asia
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
British Cleaning Council's 5th annual conference hailed a great success
The one day event was sold out well in advance and delegates were treated to superb array of keynote speeches written around the theme of the day 'changing perceptions.' Harrison Wipes scoops 'Business of the Year' and 'A Decade of Success' awards
New 2015 Living Wage rates announced
Just how much do you know about cleaning with bleach? Rafael Cobos AMIMarEST, of FutureClean Systems, writes... Recent work with a number of different (and unconnected) clients has revealed problems caused by a similar source - Bleach; Sodium Hypochlorite to be more exact. In one example, bleach was used to disinfect a large tank of water, initially through super chlorination and then to maintain clean water. Another example, which is more worrying, is the use of bleach for routine janitorial cleaning. These are just a couple of many examples we've seen, particularly in cleaning applications which is also a recurring theme amongst smaller cleaning operations. Warning: article contains graphic image FM company MAR Services launches website to showcase range of services
Ahead of the company’s 30th birthday next year, Facilities Management company MAR Services has undergone a marketing overhaul, with the launch of six new websites showcasing all its services, a blog and a reinvented social media presence. 2014 Loo of the Year Awards success
Duplex begins new innings at Lord's cricket ground
This led Sarah Brett - Purchasing Manager for MCC, owner of Lord's, to choose the Duplex 340/Steam and 620/Steam as its preferred floor cleaning machines. Events & Exhibitions ISSA Pulire 2025 CMS INTERCLEAN Hygienalia ISSA Show North America INTERCLEAN |
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