*Cleanzine-logo-10a.jpgCleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 29th November 2018 Issue no. 848

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International News
Products

Doctor diagnoses 'serious health risk' from badly stocked washrooms

Dr Sally Ferguson, a Hong Kong registered doctor who visits the Macau Grand Prix every year, was dismayed to discover that there was no soap in 'the ladies' at the Lisboa Bend grandstand for an entire weekend at the recent meeting. She spoke to cleaning ladies about the "serious health risk" this posed, but says they laughed and shook their heads.
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IICRC seeks volunteers for new BSR/IICRC S530 and BSR/IICRC S590 Standards

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The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning & Restoration Certification (IICRC) is seeking volunteers to serve on consensus bodies for the development of two new Standards: BSR/IICRC S530 Standard for Indoor Environmental Assessment for Suspected Molud Contaminated Structures; and BSR/IICRC S590 Standard for HVAC Cleaning and Decontamination in a Water Damaged Environment.
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Trojan Battery Company acquired by C&D Technologies

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Trojan Battery Company has announced that it is to be acquired by C&D Technologies in a move that will combine two leading battery manufacturers with complementary product portfolios, to create one of the largest energy storage providers with over $1.0 billion of revenue, eight manufacturing facilities and a presence in every major region. The transaction is expected to close in approximately 60 days.
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Unger floor cleaning system in comparative test

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Unger Europe tells us that its new erGO! was one of a number of floor cleaning systems put to the test by the Institute of Work Sciences & Ergonomics at the University of Siegen, Germany.

The study, led by Prof. Dr. Ing. Karsten Kluth, involved the ergonomic evaluation of floor cleaning systems to determine what - if any - stresses and strains were caused to cleaning personnel, through the various cleaning systems' different designs.
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The little accident box - helping teachers survive children's classroom accidents

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Following the recent report by Ofsted head Amanda Spielman revealing that the number of children starting school without adequate toilet training has increased at an alarming rate, health and wellbeing specialist Aroma Care Solutions has come to the rescue for teachers across the country working with three- and four-year olds settling into school life.
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News this week that investigators found traces of faeces on every McDonald's food ordering touchscreen unit they tested as well as other types of harmful bacteria at some, has sent social media into a frenzy of disgust.

What on earth did people expect?

In case you're unfamiliar with the story, the hygiene studies were carried out by metro.co.uk and the London Metropolitan University School of Human Science, on touchscreens at eight stores in London and Birmingham. These touchscreens are being trialed by McDonald's at a number of its restaurants throughout the UK with a view to emulating the rollout that started in the US in 2015, through which most of its 14,000 US locations will be fitted with touchscreens by 2020. Used by diners to place their orders before they head to the counter to collect their food, they are said to increase restaurant efficiency, speed up the ordering process and reduce potential worker error.

McDonald's says it cleans its touchscreens throughout the day and that it provides facilities for customers to wash their hands before eating. Although I haven't eaten in McDonald's in years, I have waited in stores for friends to order and have noticed that staff are very quick to use their sprayers and cleaning cloths when they're able, but unless this happens after each and every diner (or touchscreen user), then there's every chance that germs will be picked up by other restaurant users and staff and people will get sick.

And when did you ever see anyone washing their hands between opening their potentially contaminated container and beginning their meal? No - neither did I!

With these touchscreens becoming so much a part of our daily lives, from the self-service checkouts blighting our supermarkets to self-check-ins at the GP surgery and hospital departments, as well as the more familiar units at cashpoints and on card payment machines and even the units we use to stop traffic so we can cross the road, we're potentially picking up someone else's germs. It's life.

Never has the advice that used to be on toilet paper decades ago been more important: 'Now wash your hands please'. And may I add, 'Don't read or even flick through the magazines left in piles in waiting rooms of any sort'. You simply don't know what's on them...

Please get in touch either by emailing me or posting a comment on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/Cleanzine

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Yours,

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Jan Hobbs










This Week's News

'World first' has global health & safety implications

* Trolley-Castor.jpgCastor mounted units are used by many organisations within hygiene and cleanroom areas but by their very nature they can be hard to clean and can even spread germs.

This aftermarket, injection moulded, fitted and self-sealing castor wheel cover is manufactured from clear or coloured Liquid Silicone Rubber or Thermoplastic Elastomer and it makes the cleaning of equipment for use in high level hygiene environments more time efficient and sanitary.
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Gloves are a potential barrier to hand hygiene, especially amongst nurses

* Gloves-and-hygiene.jpgRather than improving hygiene, glove use in healthcare settings can actually create a potential barrier to hand hygiene - especially amongst nurses, reports Healio this week.

The World Health Organisation says that while hand hygiene and the use of examination gloves in healthcare is critical, healthcare personnel should perform hand hygiene procedures, either using alcohol-based hand-rub or soap and water, both before and after donning gloves, and that gloves should only be worn in certain scenarios. A recent study has found, however, that the use of gloves can create 'a missed opportunity' when it comes to hygiene.
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Hospital curtains, lab coats and scrubs are turned into germ-fighting shields

* Hospital-curtains.jpgSoft surfaces have traditionally been one of the bigger challenges to sanitise in the healthcare environment. One study found that 92% of privacy curtains were contaminated with infectious bacteria within one week of laundering. Yet another study cites that as much as 60% of nursing and physician attire can be a source of nosocomial infections.

Now, Prime Medical, in partnership with Clorox Professional Products, is introducing hospital privacy curtains, scrubs and lab coats that harness the sanitising effects of sodium hypochlorite-based bleach, to help make these soft surfaces part of the solution in reducing healthcare-associated infections.
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Increasing demand for natural fragrances will fuel aroma chemicals market

* Increasing-demand.jpgA new report from Transparency Market Research says that the global aroma chemicals market, valued at US$3.85 billion in 2015, is estimated to reach US$6.57 billion by 2024, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 6.2% during the forecast period.
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Unger erGO! floor cleaning system achieves top marks in University comparative tests

* Unger-ergo-testing.jpgAs announced in Cleanzine at the end of October, Unger's erGO! floor cleaning system was one of a number of systems undergoing ergonomic evaluation by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Karsten Kluth of the Institute of Work Sciences & Ergonomics at the University of Siegen. 

Unger has now informed us that the system achieved significantly better results than the two competitor products tested in both analysis and practical use.
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Greyland are all over floors!

* Cherry-Maximum.jpgAs a specialist cleaning chemicals manufacturer - they do nothing else - whether it's for hard floors or for carpets, Greyland has formulated a range of highly effective cleaning products that do just what they say they will do.
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Kärcher to open new facility near Denver, Colorado next September

* Karcher-Denver.jpgKärcher and the Aurora Economic Development Council are teaming up for a new Region North America headquarter facility in Aurora, near Denver, Colorado, which is due to open in September 2019. The manufacturer says its next step is to improve the US operation's footprint to ensure competitiveness and sustainable growth:

"Innovation is top of mind with Kärcher's plan to optimise advanced manufacturing capabilities, with new technologies such as digital and automation where appropriate," says Javier Gonzalez, CEO Region North America. "In doing so, it will also position us for future innovation and growth/expansion, not just US but globally."
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Register now for 'Smart & sustainable' themed Tissue World Milan 2019

* Register-Tissue-World.jpgRegistration is now open for the world's largest, dedicated tissue industry gathering - Tissue World Milan. Taking place next year from 25th to 27th March, the event includes a three-day conference with the theme 'Smart and Sustainable - Strategies to Stay Sharp as a New Decade Dawns', which runs alongside the trade show.

The conference will open with a full day of Senior Management Symposiums, followed by Technical Sessions and Yankee Dryer Workshop on the subsequent days. Magnus Groth, CEO and EVP of Essity and board member of Acando AB and Vinda, Hong Kong, will deliver the conference keynote address.
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Enforcement patrols help keep the lid on litter

* Litter-enforcement-patrols.jpgMore than 800 fines have been issued to litter louts around East Hampshire over the last 12 months. East Hampshire District Council is committed to keeping the district's streets clean and free from litter with regular litter enforcement patrols - residents and visitors can be fined £80 for discarding litter, including cigarette butts and chewing gum.

"Litter is a blight on our towns and villages and we take it very seriously at East Hampshire District Council," says Cllr Ingrid Thomas, portfolio holder for Neighbourhood Services.
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BrainOS featured in new commercial cleaning robot, initially for Japanese market

* BrainOS.jpgBrain Corp, an AI company specialising in the development of self-driving technology for robots, announced this week that it is powering autonomous capabilities in a new vacuum cleaner, designed specifically by SoftBank Robotics for use in commercial spaces such as retail and office environments.

Available early 2019 and focused initially on the Japanese market, the machine will be powered by BrainOS, Brain Corp's proprietary operating system.
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Lanes Group helps reduce flood risks on Manchester roads through planned gully cleaning

* Lanes-Group-Manchester.jpgDrainage engineers from Lanes Group are helping reduce the risk of localised flooding on Manchester roads through a comprehensive programme of planned gully cleaning.

Lanes has begun work on a contract, awarded by Manchester City Council, to clean all 58,000 roadside gullies in 18 wards across the south of the city over the next two years.
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New record for Lucart's plant in Avigliano: 2,000 days without injuries

* Lucart-Aviliagno.jpgThanks to the commitment of its 85 employees, Lucart's plant in Avigliano, in the province of Potenza, has set a great record: almost 5.5 years without occupational injuries. It is one of Italy's finest facilities, especially in Southern Italy, dedicated to the production of high-quality, high-performance dry paper hygiene products, such as the well-known Tutto brand.

"We achieved this goal through excellent teamwork," notes Saverio Sarubbo, manager of the plant. "Sharing the 'value' of safety with all our workers, and not just with our external suppliers, has certainly laid the foundations for this success.
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Tackling work-related stress

* Tackling-work-related-stress.jpgTackling work-related stress is one of Health &Safety Executive's health priorities - and if it's something you are also taking action on, then take a look at HSE's website for information and guidance on the right approach to take.

If you have decided that the Management Standards approach is the way you need to go, then you may be interested to know that HSE has developed an online version of the Stress Indicator Tool.
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Hospital Hygiene

Hospial Corridor

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

Counting the cost of cleanliness

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Simon Biggs, Partner at Monthind Clean, East Anglia's largest independent cleaning company, looks at the return on investment of utilising the services of a cleaning contractor and how buyers should consider the wider impacts of a lack of investment...
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Principle implements data-driven cleaning at Blue Fin Building

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Principle Cleaning Services, the London-centric cleaning and window cleaning specialist, which provides its services to some of the most famous, iconic buildings in the Capital, has partnered with Essity UK to implement the Tork EasyCube system at the Blue Fin Building.
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Mitie Waste Management wins five Green Apple awards

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Mitie Waste Management has won five Green Apple Awards - a gold, two silver and two bronze - for environmental best practice, working with clients at Network Rail, Parkdean Resorts, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons and JLL. Its success highlights its expertise as well as the commitment of its people to go beyond client specification and deliver excellence to set a new bar for best practice.
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Soapbox: Fly tipping problems... a potential solution?

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Principle Cleaning Services' Doug Cooke responds to recent comments about fly tipping

"Making the public and companies aware that they have a legal duty of care to ensure their rubbish/rubble/waste material is disposed of by a licensed operator who's issued a waste transfer certificate, should be undertaken by local authorities and groups like Keep Britain Tidy. Very heavy fines can be handed down by the Courts for those caught, who don't comply.
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Recycle Week 2018: 'the best ever'

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Congratulations to all the local authorities and organisations that got behind this year's Recycle Week, which turned out to be the biggest and best Recycle Week ever!
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Clarity-The Soap Co wins in two categories at The Planet Mark Awards

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Clarity-The Soap Co won in both the Best Newcomer and Best Employee Engagement categories at the The Planet Mark Awards held at London's Sadler's Wells Theatre last month.

At a glittering ceremony, with keynote speaker Sir Tim Smit KBE = co-founder of the Eden Project - encouraging the audience to redouble efforts to inspire others to reduce their carbon footprint and develop more sustainable businesses, Clarity-The Soap Co was acknowledged as a social enterprise that is setting best practice in its sector and beyond for reducing its carbon footprint via a series of green initiatives.
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Principle retains REM portfolio properties in five-year deal

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Principle Cleaning Services, the London-based cleaning specialist, which provides its services to some of the most famous landmark buildings in the Capital, has retained its contract with Real Estate Management (UK) (REM) for three of its properties - The Shard, Park House, Oxford Street, and 48 Pall Mall.
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Minster Cleaning Services roll out TemplaCMS to 26 franchises

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Founded in 1984, Minster Cleaning Services is a well-established franchised cleaning network, with 43 franchises and group revenue of more than £40m. The individual franchises (known as branches) are spread all over the country and range in turnover from £0.5m to over £2.0m.
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Interserve Facilities Management fined for safety failings

Interserve Facilities Management has been fined after multiple safety failings at a laboratory site for the Animal Health & Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge.

Hove Crown Court heard how, in September 2014, mains power was lost at the site which includes high containment laboratory facilities required to safely handle high hazard pathogens that are a serious risk to human health and the environment.
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Gritting crews ready for Winter

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With temperatures having dropped rapidly in the UK over the past few days and snow and ice reported in many locations following an unusually mild Autumn, Thurrock Council's new fleet of specialist multi-purpose vehicles - which also carry out road maintenance work - have been used for gritting for the first time.
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We have mail: business rates relief for public toilets... and an endorsement!

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Hi Jan

Having been involved, as Director of BTA and owner of Loo of the Year Awards, giving evidence to a Parliamentary Select Committee in 2008 demanding changes that would require the Government to make a legal requirement on local authorities to provide adequate public toilets, I welcome the budget changes.
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Soapbox: A good week for toilet talk

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By Yvonne Orgill, CEO of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association...

"It has been a good week for toilet talk. First we had the chancellor making numerous toilet jokes as he announced in the budget that owners will no longer pay business rates on public toilets. Then Microsoft founder Bill Gates unveils a futuristic toilet that doesn't need water by making a presentation with a jar of human faeces on show beside him.
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Waste management company fined £650,000 plus costs after worker killed while cleaning

A waste management company has been fined after a worker was fatally injured while cleaning a large ballistic separator machine.

Aylesbury Crown Court heard how, in August 2016, a Viridor Waste Management employee climbed into the top level of the ballistic separator - a machine that sifts through and separates recyclable materials - to clean it, before it was suitably isolated from the power supply.
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Events & Exhibitions

ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo
11-12th September 2024
Sydney
Australia

Website

Cleantex Africa
16-18th October 2024
Johannesburg
South Africa

Website

ISSA Show North America
18-21st November 2024
Las Vegas
USA

Website

Interclean China 2024
11-13th December 2024
Shanghai
Website

London Cleaning Show
18-20th March 2025
ExCel London
Website

ISSA Pulire 2025
27-29th May 2025
Rho Fiera Milano
Italy

Website


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