Chris Luxton, the man behind Ecovend, Ecotime and several other innovations in the cleaning industry, contacted me recently to tell me about a new chewing gum removal system he is offering to the UK market, called the Multi-Nozzle 18.

He said: “This is the very latest specialist attachment which fits to any pressure washing machine and is the only safe method of removing chewing gum from Tarmac & asphalt without causing damage to either surface. Previously, local authorities and major contract cleaners only had a single jet for removing chewing gum which used a lot of water and took a long time to penetrate the chewing gum. It would sometimes, however, break up the Tarmac or asphalt. Until now, that is!”

The Aberdeen branch of Arco, supplier of safety equipment and workwear, is celebrating winning a national award for service excellence.

The prestigious British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) Service Award recognised Arco as “offering exceptional service and innovative service solutions in occupational safety”. Arco’s Aberdeen branch was voted to win the award by its local customers. A panel of judges from the safety industry selected Arco as the overall winner of the category, which was entered by some 55 companies throughout the UK.

Over 80% of primary care, mental health, ambulance and care trusts have signed-up for the National Patient Safety Agency’s (NPSA) cleanyourhands campaign. Registration closed at the end of April with over 170 trusts committing to improve the hand hygiene of healthcare workers in the fight against healthcare associated infection (HCAI).

The expansion of the cleanyourhands campaign follows its success in changing the hand hygiene behaviour of healthcare workers in hospitals and trialling of the campaign in 19 ‘pioneer’ organisations representing the mix of different care settings.

The 19th PHS Quarterly FM Survey investigated facilities perceptions and current practice in respect of workplace hygiene, given its potential impact on cross-infection, illness and staff absence.

The results showed that office cleaning routines and hygiene practice fall short of requirements, given the increase in germ-based risk factors like hot-desking and eating meals at desks. This was quite surprising, as encouraging levels of general awareness emerged amongst interviewed FMs, about the overall contribution of workplace hygiene to staff health, (and when you consider that the UK loses around 175 million working days to sickness each year, at a cost of £13 billion).

In June and July, young people from secondary schools across the UK are participating in an interactive programme designed to raise awareness of the impact of litter on their local environment.

The Bin It! Schools Programme, an actor-led presentation, will visit schools in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales this summer, educating pupils on the correct way to dispose of their chewing gum and other litter.