SOAPBOX: Covid-19 and PPE Equipment: Do they conform?

Paul Wonnacot, managing director and president at Vectair Systems, writes:

Question: what do Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Czech Republic and (amongst others) the UK have in common?
Answer: all have been duped into purchasing unsafe, non-conforming and dangerous Protective Safety Equipment (PPE) needed for essential workers in the fight against coronavirus.
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The category winners of the Amsterdam Innovation Award 2020

The first day of Interclean Amsterdam online, Innovation Day, revealed the category winners of the Amsterdam Innovation Awards 2020.

As the current pandemic is impacting the world and as the people become more focused on hygiene and cleaning, it has become even more crucial to highlight all the great developments and innovations in our industry.
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Cleaning “key” for lockdown exit strategy: a sectorial approach is needed, says new Guidance

An EU-produced, Joint European Roadmap providing a common framework for European and national authorities to phase-out Covid-19 containment measures, recognises the key role cleaning and disinfection have to play.
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HSE reminder on water systems safety during lockdown

The Health & Safety Executive has reminded building occupiers, businesses and other duty holders restarting operations after the shutdown to review their water systems' maintenance arrangements to avoid creating a public health hazard from waterborne bacteria such as legionella.

Water stagnation, poor temperature control and increased levels of contamination may create a hazard in water systems that have been less frequently used than normal (such as dental or outpatient facilities) or where operation has been suspended (such as leisure, sports, swimming and spa pool facilities).
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EFCI launches second chapter of ‘In Good Hands’/’Helping Europe Reopen’ campaign

This week, EFCI - the voice of the European cleaning and facility services industry in Europe - launched the second phase of the campaign #InGoodHands, which, for two weeks, will underline the cleaning industry's key role and voice its specific needs to support Europe's economic and social recovery.

The second phase of the campaign, with its dual motto ‘In Good Hands’/’Helping Europe Reopen’, intends to raise awareness among European and national policymakers of the active and targeted support that professional cleaning companies need to continue performing such an essential and strategic role.
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Soapbox: Disinfection vs Decontamination - why dry steam vapour cleaning is crucial to fighting COVID-19

Says Thomas Stuecken, Osprey Deepclean:

"As COVID-19 continues to ravage the globe, the face of environmental hygiene needs to change, and we must adapt fast. We need to put standard cleaning practices under the microscope and raise the bar on what's considered 'standard practice'.
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CHSA warns buyers to beware of profiteers capitalising on unprecedented demand

The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association is warning all buyers of cleaning and hygiene products to beware of unscrupulous profiteers capitalising on the unprecedented demand for these products.

New companies have been set up to buy and sell on products like hand and surface sanitisers, gloves, wipes, tissue and aprons. Some are also buying up raw materials and attempting to produce some products. Primarily selling online, their products carry an exceptionally high mark-up and there is no guarantee that they meet industry standards.
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Global shortage of trigger head sprays countered by Greyland

Due to the unprecedented demand for Greyland chemicals during the COVID crisis, coupled with the shortage of trigger head sprays, the company has decided to supply its ready to use trigger spray products with flip top lids, plus two spare trigger heads.

A guide for washing out used trigger heads has also been produced.
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Winning employee 'hearts & minds' essential for safe return to work, advises Bureau Veritas

As the UK Government unveils new guidelines for making workplaces 'Covid-secure', global health & safety expert Bureau Veritas is advising businesses that their safe return to work depends on their ability to "win the hearts & minds of employees" alongside creating clear policy, systems and processes with regular monitoring.

The advice is, of course, useful wherever you may be in the world…
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Samsic calls for greater user engagement in post-Coronavirus workspace management

As part of a strategy to help businesses begin to navigate through the changed landscape of post-Covid workspaces, Samsic UK has rolled out a programme enabling users to participate in real-time environment hygiene control.

The facilities services provider's six-point plan to returning businesses to their workplaces post-Coronavirus extends beyond 'deep clean' to imbue a broader ethos of hygiene engagement and maintenance using digital technologies aimed at enabling the better mindfulness of site users.
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Emergency FM specialist launches Back to Business Covid-19 disinfection and testing service

SafeGroup, the independent emergency soft FM service provider, has launched a comprehensive and highly-innovative Covid-19 disinfection and testing service to support businesses as they seek to return to work safely and smoothly.

The three-step process involves a premises deep clean and a Covid-19 (Coronavirus) treat and protect service. It also includes, for the first time, Covid-19 testing of treated surfaces to allay the predicted fears of staff and customers as they return to business premises.
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Coronavirus and bed bugs: how to protect your guests when you reopen

The damage suffered by hotels during the Coronavirus pandemic may not be over once the Government greenlights a return to travel, according to creator of smart pest systems, Spotta. The UK-based company reveals that dormant bed bugs will live around a year without feeding; waiting for hotel guests to return.
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Growth continues for Tidy Green Clean

Tidy Green Clean, the environmentally-friendly cleaning business that operates on a franchise model, is continuing 2020 with its commitment to growth, with the appointment of two new regional directors, including its first in England. Alex McCarthy is the regional director for Northern England and Callum Cruickshank is regional director for Aberdeen West.
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Biosciences research company deals with bleach influx into water supply

As members of the public 'reach for the bleach' to rid their homes of germs following the Covid-19 outbreak, an increasing amount of chemical-based products are making their way into the communal water supply, subsequently reducing the overall water quality.
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Clean Sweep works around the clock in Covid-19 battle

One South Wales cleaning company has pulled out all the stops to do its bit to help the nation's fight and the NHS's response to Covid-19.
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New Master for the WCEC focuses on the fight against Coronavirus

The chairman of a business which has been repivoted to make hospital gowns for the NHS during the Coronavirus pandemic has been appointed as the new Master of the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners.
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Mitie builds on environmental commitments by joining EP100

Mitie has signed up to the EP100 commitment. By joining the initiative, Mitie has committed to double its energy productivity - measured by the amount of energy used per pound of revenue generated - over the next 25 years (from baseline year of FY18/19).

However, based on current targets to improve its energy productivity, Mitie anticipates meeting this goal significantly sooner.
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Washrooms and the spread of Covid-19

"You can also catch the virus if you touch a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes".

The Coronavirus can live for hours to days on surfaces such as toilet cubicles, WCs, washbasins, hand-dryers and entrance door handles. How long it survives depends on the material the surface is made from.
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Vinci Facilities’ Paul Cottam joins Mates in Mind Board of Trustees

Mates in Mind recently appointed Paul Cottam, a director of Vinci Facilities, as a Trustee Board Member.
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Industry body calls for all cleaners to be included in priority list for Coronavirus testing

The British Cleaning Council is calling for all cleaners to be to be included in the expanded first wave of testing for Coronavirus for 'essential workers' announced last week.
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Coronavirus - the impact on the cleaning & hygiene supply chain

The Coronavirus is having a significant impact on the cleaning and hygiene supply sector, creating what is likely to be the most challenging environment members have ever experienced, says the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association.
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A true war effort: Selden converts facility to maximise on production of anti-viral portfolio

When the sheer scale of the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic became clear, companies in this industry were faced with a choice: ‘keep calm and carry on’ or join what has often been dubbed ‘the war effort’.
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Prochem reports increased demand for Microsan

Due to the recent outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19), Prochem Europe has seen increased demand for its D500 Microsan biocidal cleaner.

Originally developed in the 1980's for the HBV, HCV and HIV blood-borne viruses, the Microsan formulation is also effective against Coronavirus (Coronaviridae family including MERS-CoV) and is approved to EN14476 for use on hard washable surfaces.
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Colleagues down tools as two cleaners at Ministry of Justice die from suspected Covid-19

United Voices of the World Union members at the Ministry of Justice walked off the job on Tuesday, International Workers Memorial Day, in response to two of their colleagues dying from suspected Covid-19.

The cleaners claim they have been forced to work throughout lockdown despite repeatedly complaining of inadequate PPE, to their employer OCS Group.
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Interclean China 2023
18-20th October 2023
2nd edition
Chongqing
China
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Hygienalia
7-9th November 2023
Madrid, Spain
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Clean Eurasia Expo 2023
8-10th November 2023
Istanbul
Turkey
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ISSA Show North America
13-16th November 2023
Las Vegas
USA
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The Cleaning Show
13-14th March 2024
Manchester
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