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PHS sponsors FM award
PHS Washrooms was proud to sponsor the hotly contested Facilities Manager of the Year Award during the Health Estates and Facilities Management Association (HefmA) Exhibition recently.
A record number of entries was received, but after much deliberation from the judging panel, this award was presented to Craige Richardson, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Richardson is a worthy winner of this award as his ongoing personal commitment to self-improvement and his ‘can do’ customer-focused approach has made a real difference within the NHS.
www.phs.co.uk/washrooms
International cleaning study gives cause for concern
Results of a recent international cleaning study, conducted across eight countries by the Hygiene Council, have given rise for concern.
The survey showed that kitchen areas are dirtier than bathrooms when it comes to bacterial contamination. More than half (52%) of taps tested were unsatisfactory compared to only 15% of toilet flush handles. In reality, taps within kitchen areas are much more likely to be the home of E. Coli and other harmful bacteria.
Tests confirm that just because something looks clean does not mean that it is. Toilet flush handles are considered to be high risk and are therefore cleaned more effectively.
Commercial environments often do not get the attention that would be paid in the home arena. Desks have been proven to carry far more germs than a toilet seat with employees going on to touch door handles, office equipment and telephones.
The kitchen dish cloth is another major risk factor with the majority of people only rinsing it in standard detergent and not disinfectant. The reality is that bacteria love a warm, wet environment in which to breed.
Micro-organisms present a health and safety risk for us all, and under the right conditions microbes can double in number every 15 to 20 minutes. Cases of food poisoning are known to have doubled in the decade 1987 to 1997 having a significant impact on absenteeism in the workplace.
Clean Sweep UK specialises in flexible hire contracts for the full range of commercial cleaning equipment nationwide - including steam cleaners, carpet care equipment, scrubber dryers and ride on sweepers.
A fixed delivery charge applies irrespective of site location within the UK. Orders placed before 10am will be delivered the next day or before if possible. Any service calls placed before 3pm will receive an engineering visit on the next working day.
www.cleansweephire.co.uk
‘Zombie companies’ - a new menace to the cleaning industry
There are now 70 companies in the UK cleaning services industry that are ‘Zombie’ businesses. These companies have seen their performance deteriorate to such as extent that they now exist merely to pay off their debts and survive.
David Pattison, author of the new Plimsoll Analysis, explained: “These companies are in a state, posting growing losses and, despite the obvious freeze in the credit markets, increasing their debts. They are Zombie businesses with debts at an average of 51% of turnover - they exist to service their out of control liabilities. Many are also using their suppliers to finance their growing losses, taking twice as long as to pay their bills as the industry average of 38 days.”
Pattison also explained the other major problems these Zombies are facing: “They are falling behind the rest and their productivity is well below the industry average. It’s hard for them to compete as their cost base is just too high. As a result, investment plans have been mothballed meaning their aging assets are further restricting their ability to remain competitive.”
So can these Zombies be saved? Pattison is clear that not all will survive and those that do have a lot of pain ahead: “The first thing they need to do is sort out their immediate finances. They have to convince their banks and suppliers to keep supporting them or not pull the plug. If they can pull that off then the hard work really starts. They urgently need to stem their losses and control costs. The longer it takes them to address these issues, the harder and less likely it is they will ever fix them.”
However, Pattison points to some attractive takeover targets hidden among the Zombies: “Canny investors are seeing an opportunity to pick up a bargain. Some of these companies, stuck in a zombie state because of their balance sheet, have lots of potential for new owners to turn it around. We picked 41 companies that we feel have the most potential.”
And for those unable to attract new buyers Pattison said: “Most have simply had their day and a combination of aging assets, rising losses and increasing debts mean they are unlikely to attract a suitor before the receivers are called. They will be forced back into negotiations with their lenders to buy more time but their future doesn’t look good.”
The new Plimsoll Industry Analysis - Cleaning Services will tell you instantly which companies are prospering in the post recession market place, those taking a big gamble and those in trouble. It gives an instant performance rating on 1000 companies and highlights those ripe for acquisition. Each company is assessed using the Plimsoll Model - a graphical and written analysis that lays bare the facts and gives you instant opinion.
Readers of Cleaning and Maintenance are entitled to a £50 discount of this new special edition of the Plimsoll Industry Analysis - Cleaning Services. Call 01642 626400 for further details and quote reference PR/ SV20.
www.plimsoll.co.uk
‘Pay as you throw’ charges ruled out
Plans to let English councils charge or reward people according to their refuse have been thrown out by Eric Pickles, the new Communities Secretary. The plans, aimed at cutting landfill, were described by Pickles as ‘insulting’. The government plans to back rewarding people for recycling instead.
The announcement removes the prospect of charging households who put out the most non-recycled rubbish out. The move was in part a response to the UK’s need to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill by nearly two-thirds by 2020 to meet EU targets.
"You should treat people with respect instead of having a bunch of bin inspectors, or bin police," Pickles said in a BBC News interview. He added that incentivising people was the quickest way to increase recycling levels, which he said would be badly needed if the UK was to meet its target of becoming ‘one of the green economies of Europe’.
Mark Woodhead, chairman of the British Cleaning Council, offered qualified support for incentivising recycling: "We believe that encouraging sustainable behaviour is more effective than using a stick to force people to recycle, but we are worried that these measures will not address the central problem - to reduce the amount of non- recyclable waste. There is not an incentive for households to reduce the waste they generate in the first place, only to recycle more.”
Pay-as-you-throw is still being considered in Wales, but there are no plans for it in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
www.britishcleaningcouncil.org
Legionnaires danger highlighted
Sheffield’s Gems Hygiene is urging businesses to keep air conditioning units clean, particularly during the recent hot weather, to stop the onset of Legionnaires’ disease. Gems is highlighting the importance of regular sanitisation of industrial cooling systems, which are a key breeding ground for the legionella bacteria.
Sarah Wade, Gems’ marketing manager, said: “During the summer months, many UK businesses rely heavily on air conditioning, which unfortunately has been associated with outbreaks of the potentially fatal Legionnaires’ disease. People operating these systems have a legal obligation to prevent the risk of exposure by ensuring units are dosed with a biocide that prohibits the growth of the dangerous bacteria.”
Gems’ air conditioning cleaner, Gemsan, is specially formulated to eliminate Legionnaires’ disease. It contains two powerful biocides that are effective against bacteria, fungi, yeasts and algae, yet are safe to use on any material and are environmentally and user friendly. By simply diluting the solution with water, it can be sprayed or wiped onto the air conditioning components and flushed through the system.
Legionnaires’ disease is normally contracted by inhaling legionella bacteria in tiny droplets of water or the particles left once water has evaporated. The sediment, sludge, scale and other material that builds up in air conditioning units is thought to provide favourable conditions for the bacteria to grow. Regular cleaning and disinfection should be undertaken, along with a programme of monitoring, to demonstrate that a system is being operated safely.
www.gemshygiene.co.uk
Dreumex expands into North America
Dreumex B.V. has acquired the American company Gent-L-Kleen Products, Inc of York, Pennsylvania. Dreumex is a supplier of hand cleansing and hand care products. Gent-L-Kleen also manufactures hand hygiene products, with a particular focus on the professional user in North America. The joint knowledge, expertise and resources will create a strong basis and increased efficiency for both companies.
The acquisition of Gent-L-Kleen is an important milestone in Dreumex’s global strategy. Jan-Chris Heeger, managing director of Dreumex BV, said: “This acquisition marks the next step on the road to a global leading position for Dreumex in the industrial hand care market. Gent-L-Kleen will be a strategic base for Dreumex to produce select products for North American markets.”
Gent-L-Kleen is in its 61st year. Since its start in 1949, the goal of the company has always been to supply the best quality and to strive towards continual improvement. The takeover by Dreumex is in keeping with this objective. Jim Strickler, owner of Gent-L-Kleen, said: “We are very confident in the Dreumex organisation and proud to be a part of their team. The new and innovative products Dreumex brings to us will be an exciting addition to our product range. This new venture will lead to accelerated growth in Gent-L-Kleen’s future. It will be very positive for our dedicated team of employees, our customer partners, our team of sales representatives and our vendor partners. The combined resources will increase our strength and efficiencies. Our new partnership and strategy will be a win-win for all parties.”
www.dreumex.com
www.gentlkleen.com
