African Cleaning Review

March/April 2014 | R40.25 (incl. VAT)

Sustainability part of paper tissue value chain Contract cleaning interview Hand drying – paper towel study Maintaining carpeted areas

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2014

contents MARCH/APRIL 2014 • VOL 15 NO. 2

Designed for long lasting performances The collapsible X-Cart from Rubbermaid Commercial Products – a versatile system you can rely on for efficient performance without compromising image. With multiple models to choose from, these easy to maneuver basket trucks efficiently transport a wide variety of materials and then conveniently collapse to enable efficient storage and improve organisation. Read more about these products on pages 16 and 17.

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Opinion

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Sustainability an integral part of the paper tissue value chain

Industry News

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DuPont dirty work contest European cleaning tour on track Acquisition expands footprint to Eastern Cape Specialised cleaning at power station New insights on air contamination and hand hygiene in washrooms

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May/June issue: • Hand hygiene • Hospitality cleaning

Educational

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Jul/Aug issue: • Washroom dispensers • Hard floor care

Facilities Management Review

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SAPOA concerned over escalating property rates FM – Proactive versus reactive management

Advertorial

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Unscrupulous cleaning contractors to face red card – NCCA

Interview

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Newell Rubbermaid SA Managing Director Amanda Martin

People and Events

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Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in African Cleaning Review, e-squared publications and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of the claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. Copyright of all material published in African Cleaning Review remains with e-squared publications and its agents.

Contract Cleaning – Interview with Bidvest Managed Solutions Group MD Johan du Toit Maintaining carpeted areas and disposal of wastewater

Paper towels are most hygienic way to dry hands – study

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All editorial contributions can be sent to the editor who reserves the right to publish editorial on the strength of its content. No articles or photographs may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publishers.

Upcoming Features 2014

Features

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African Cleaning Review is aimed at end-users, contractors and suppliers of products and services to Africa’s Cleaning, Hygiene, Maintenance, Pest Control and Facility Management Services industries. It is published every other month by: e-squared publications.

Tel: +27 (0) 11 238 7848 or +27 (0) 72 611 1959 Fax: +27 (0) 86 672 4794 PO Box 1976, Halfway House, 1685, South Africa email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Website: www.africancleaningreview.co.za Editor/Publisher: Johann van Vuuren +27 11 238 7848 email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Features: Teresa Settas +27 11 238 7848 email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Advertising: +27 11 238 7848 email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Administration and Accounts: Nandé Jacobs email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za

Sept/Oct issue: • Outdoor cleaning • Food hygiene Nov/Dec issue: • High pressure systems • Transport cleaning

ACR now also electronic!

This issue of African Cleaning Review is now available on-line. In order to be added to the database and receive your own copy, email your full name, position and company details to: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za

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Prime Cleaning Suppliers at the annual NCCA Western Cape golf day Trojan Battery Co. appoints Sales Manager for Africa

New Products Smoking management solutions Safety boots with soul

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2014

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from the editor

opinion

Sustainability is an integral part of the paper tissue value chain Tissue industry veteran Roberto Berardi of the European Tissue Symposium (ETS) explains how the sector is taking steps to stay ahead

Interviews offer sharper understanding

of the curve in meeting the challenges of sustainability. His thoughts and vision offers a fresh perspective on the tissue sector and, because Europe is regarded as the paper recycling world champion, we in South Africa

We are well on our way towards the end of the first quarter of this year and the South African general elections are imminent, seems time waits for nobody.

In this issue we take a closer look at the state of the contract cleaning sector in an exclusive interview with leading multi service provider Bidvest Managed Solutions having recently confirmed the addition of Royalserve Cleaning Services to the group’s already impressive portfolio of services. The National Contract Cleaners Association addresses the issue of contractor compliance in an article written by the compliance auditors in an effort to highlight the benefits to members in order to increase the number of compliant service providers.

Talking about time, we are almost upon the 25th edition of the world’s largest fair for cleaning professionals, held every two years in Amsterdam.

Tour organiser Steve Braham gives us an update on how many South African will attend the four-day world showcase for cleaning and maintenance. African Cleaning Review will also be there and will bring you an update on the latest trends and technology in a special ISSA/ Interclean 2014 feature planned for the May/June issue.

In another interview, Amanda Martin who initially launched Technical Concepts in South Africa elaborates on her return to South Africa to again head up and transform the company that became Newell Rubbermaid South Africa.

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can certainly learn from their effective ways to recover used materials and implement steps to reduce waste generation in the first place.

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hen you work in an industry that relies on forests for its base material then you naturally think long term. Business sustainability is a way of life in the European tissue industry where trees can have a growing cycle of up to 50 years. Europe has some of the most advanced forestry management systems in the world and performs well against a range of sustainability criteria.

The goal of the tissue industry is to not only drive the adoption of ever-greater sustainability practices within our own sector, but to be an integral part of driving sustainable hygiene and human health throughout Europe. Sustainability must become a way of life.

Before elaborating on some of the initiatives the industry is taking I should clearly define the concept of ‘sustainable business’. Sustainability is often described as having three pillars: social, environmental and economic. I agree of course, but my preferred definition is one I learned in a seminar at Harvard Business School a few years ago, where Sustainability was defined as Leadership and Responsibility. A business must set its direction placing the principles of sustainability at its very heart: its purpose, mission, strategy, goals, values

and responsibilities. It must then create a corporate context and culture in which its actions are economically, legally and ethically sound.

By meeting each of these three criteria in all of its business actions an organisation can legitimately claim to be sustainable. And indeed as we have already seen, ethical requirements frequently become legal requirements over time, as societal opinion moves to embrace a more sustainable approach to the way we do business.

This is ultimately in agreement with the Brundtland Commission’s mission to unite countries to pursue sustainable development together. Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

How is the European Tissue industry shaping up?

The sector is working continuously to increase its sustainability across a host of different areas including recycling, recovery, transport, water and workplace safety. There are some wellestablished initiatives and also some exciting new projects being developed that are likely to herald the future direction for the sector.

opinion

Roberto Berardi

Forest certification – a crucial development in demonstrating our sustainable credentials We are immensely proud of our most recent initiative in the area of Forest Certification. This is a crucial development for the sector and offers reassurance to our customers and consumers, while also lending further credibility to the sector.

ETS supports the use of fibres from sustainably- and legally-managed forests and encourages the use of third party certification as one of the best ways to ensure that suppliers meet these requirements. We do not favour any single scheme but support the various international and national Forest Certification schemes that offer third party verification or certification of compliance.

Customers have welcomed the certification of fibres and we are committed to supporting the sustainable management of forests based on responsible forest management, social responsibility and economic viability. We also encourage the development of standards, performance measures, and continual improvement in best practices for forest ecosystems.

We use the definition of ‘Sustainable Forest Management’ agreed at the Second Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, held in Helsinki in 1993: “The stewardship and use of forests and forest lands in 1

a way and at a rate that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential to fulfil now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic and social functions at local, national and global levels, and that does not cause damage to other eco-systems.”

ETS has particularly welcomed the new EU Timber Regulation, which came into force in 2013 and ensures that only products from legally-sourced wood are sold across the EU28. The members of ETS have for some years committed to using only fibres from legal and sustainable sources.

Exploring opportunities in recycling and recovery Europe leads the world in paper recycling with levels at over 70 percent in 20121 – up from 40 percent in 1995. While paper consumption levels are the same today as in 1998, recycling levels are 150 percent higher. In Europe, a paper fibre is collected and recycled 3.5 times on average, compared with just 2.4 times worldwide. ETS members are part of the European Recovered Paper Council, committed to meet a voluntary recycling target of 70 percent in the EU plus Switzerland and Norway by 2015 – a level already achieved today, and higher than any other region in the world.

I should stress though that lifecycle analysis studies (LCA) show

sustainable tissue products can be produced with both recovered and new fibres and that each has its benefits and shortcomings. Experts have carried out carbon footprint studies on toilet tissue that prove that the decision to use either fibre type does not significantly alter the carbon footprint and that neither fibre type can be considered environmentally preferable when considering carbon emissions2.

Industry’s continued ambition is to drive sustainable hygiene and human health Total environmental impacts depend on a number of factors including location of the mill, closeness of available fibres, energy options and production waste utilisation, and these should be reviewed on a case by case basis. It is for this reason that we advocate a total lifecycle approach to understand the environmental impact of our products.

We are not in favour of carbon footprint labelling for our products as it measures just one environmental impact and so can be potentially misleading for consumers. However, we are following with great interest the EU project to establish Product and Organisation environmental footprints as these should encompass all the environment impacts and overcome the weakness in carbon footprinting.

Thanks to sophisticated new technologies the tissue industry

CEPI Carbon footprint of toilet tissue paper: Comparison of toilet tissue using 100% fresh fibre pulp and 100% recovered fibre pulp. Authors: Catharina Hohenthal and Katri Behm, March 2009

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opinion

ETS tree nursery

increasingly uses recycled fibres in products without compromising on softness, strength and absorbency.

Companies are innovating using recycled fibres or environmentally friendly fibres from plants that grow well and are able to offer products that are similar to virgin fibre ones.

The very latest development is that industry leaders are actively exploring opportunities to recycle paper towels.

Research is ongoing but could lead to some exciting breakthroughs for our industry in contributing to Europe’s status as paper recycling world champion.

Driving waste minimisation The most effective way to recover used materials is to not generate waste in the first place. A great deal of work is being undertaken in paper mills across Europe to minimise wastage – in the production processes, in the cutting of the paper, and in the way machinery and forklifts are used. Efforts seek to minimise damage and hence wastage in the handling of tissue products and the industry is also developing more absorbent products, which reduce usage.

Conservation of water is a key global concern and companies in the tissue sector increasingly operate fully closed production loops to re-use water – although they have to evaluate whether this is the most cost-efficient option in the more water abundant countries of northern Europe.

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Upholding sustainability in the workplace Safety in the workplace is a fundamental prerequisite of sustainability – and a legal and ethical obligation. Upholding optimal safety is rooted in respect and if employees believe that management is placing safety as a number one priority then they will be motivated and work well. The result is a virtuous circle for a company’s prosperity.

The implementation of values and practices that guarantee optimal safety standards is rooted in the psyche of not just the tissue industry but of its main suppliers too, and we are proud of the safety standards that we uphold.

What’s next for the tissue sector?

Trade customers and consumers are increasingly aware of the need to save and conserve. They are particularly keen on packaging reduction and industry members have taken a number of initiatives to make products more compact. This pleases retailers as they take up less space on-shelf in store, and pleases customers as they are less bulky to store at home. Larger rolls – twice the length of a standard roll – save on packaging, transport and storage costs; have been available for a number of years too, and are now being extended more widely, including into private label.

ETS has also undertaken transport studies to look at truck utilisation and content optimisation in order to be more economic and energy efficient.

And the industry hasn’t stopped there.

We also look at recycled plastics for the outer wrappings to ensure that every stage of the production chain is conscious of the impact it has on the environment.

Looking to the future our industry will continue to push the boundaries in re-utilisation techniques and even surpass some of the excellent work that is being done today. I believe we will develop ever more efficient and effective paper production and converting technology and perhaps machines will be more compact, and so located closer to the final customer.

I would also hope that we will work to further limit our energy waste, promote renewable sources and reduce the miles travelled by our products. Some promising new work is already taking place in the area of wind energy generation, with wind turbines being cited in forests on the tops of hills where they are away from people and in low-yield locations.

My dream of course is that future innovations will provide the planet with unlimited quantities of low cost, low impact energy. This would enable us to develop the ideal toilet roll: soft, absorbent, resistant, very long, pleasantly decorated, made with recycled fibres and at a price that is accessible to the vast majority of people.

I am excited about what we have achieved so far in driving the principles of sustainability throughout our sector. And I am optimistic about the future and where innovation and a determination to do even better can lead us. But we are not complacent. The European tissue industry is committed to helping people to achieve a better quality of life by delivering optimal hygiene that supports human health. Unless we are able to improve, or at the very least uphold our standards of excellence, then we cannot justify the term ‘sustainable’.

ETS is the European Tissue Paper Industry Association. The members of ETS represent the majority of tissue paper producers throughout Europe and around 90 percent of the total European tissue production. ETS was founded in 1971 and is based in Brussels.

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industry news Winners had to tackle the filthiest tasks

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uPont Protection Technologies (US) recently announced the winners of the third annual DuPont Dirty Work Photo Contest, featuring DuPont ProShield, DuPont Tyvek and DuPont Tychem. Chad Grant and Bruce Taylor won the top two prizes in the online competition by best demonstrating the many ways in which workers use DuPont Tyvek and DuPont Tychem garments to help keep them safe and clean on the job.

Entrants were asked to submit original photos of themselves or their colleagues wearing a DuPont ProShield, DuPont Tyvek or DuPont Tychem garment after completing their ‘dirty work’.

The entries were then judged based on a variety of criteria, including how well the DuPont garment and ‘dirty work’ were portrayed in the photo. Chad Grant was the grand prize winner, submitting the dirtiest picture of them all, showing how he uses a DuPont Tychem QC suit with a DuPont Tyvek coverall to protect him while cleaning number six fuel oil. Chad’s suits were covered in the messy oil. As the grand prize winner, Chad received US$1 500 in prize money. Bruce Taylor was the first prize winner and received a US$750 prize for the photo of him and his fellow Howard County workers cleaning a sewerage

station wet well. From sticky oil to sewerage, DuPont protective garments help provide comfortable and durable protection – an ideal balance for a variety of industrial uses, including general maintenance, contracting and mold remediation. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders they can assist in finding solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment.

To view all of the entries, visit: www.tyvekphotocontest.dupont.com

European cleaning tour on track

Steve Braham

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msterdam tour organiser Steve Braham confirmed during mid March 2014 that he had secured bookings from 42 individuals who will be visiting the 25th edition of ISSA/ Interclean 2014, the world’s leading trade fair for cleaning and maintenance.

“This year’s response has been outstanding and what makes it more interesting is the fact we have a completely different group attending, compared the previous show. It is also encouraging to see that despite the Rand’s recent slump against the Euro currency, South Africans are still prepared

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to invest in expanding their knowledge of the professional cleaning sector by gaining first hand experience of the latest trends and technology on a global stage,” said Steve.

The National Contract Cleaners Association (NCCA) has again taken a stand at the show and will be represented by the National Chairman and Chair’s from the Gauteng and Eastern Cape provinces. The tour group will for the first time include representatives from another African country with two companies from Botswana having confirmed their bookings. In addition the Chairman of the West Africa Cleaning Association have already indicated his interest in meeting with South Africans in Amsterdam.

The 2014 tour party consists of cleaning contractors, suppliers, multi service providers and representatives from the industry journal, African Cleaning Review, who will be covering the event from a media perspective.

Another first, South African firm Africa Floorcare will be exhibiting at

the ISSA/Interclean show to introduce their locally manufactured Tinta hygiene brushware range to the rest of the world.

“The traditional South African theme evening comprising of a cocktail party at the NCCA stand, followed by an Amsterdam canal cruise is as popular as ever with eighty South Africans having already confirmed their seats. This has resulted in us having to consider a third boat in order to accommodate additional bookings,” said Steve.

Having attended this biennial exhibition for almost ten years Steve attributes the fact that South Africans are always keen to visit the Amsterdam show to the warm hospitality and courtesy extended to them as fellow cleaning professionals in a conducive business environment where one learns from another. “I must admit this is always a most gratifying experience,” concluded Steve.

For more information contact Steve at: steve@sbpr.co.za

industry news Acquisition expands footprint to Eastern Cape

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ne of South Africa’s leading integrated solutions companies, Kallvest recently announced that it has acquired Iqela, an Eastern Cape based cleaning and security service provider. Iqela will, with effect from 1 March 2014, continue to operate under Kallvest branding. The Kallvest Group is a privately owned PSIRA compliant service provider, offering one-stop contract cleaning and security solutions.

“With a head office in Port Elizabeth and providing services throughout the region to a wide variety of clients, Iqela already has a strong footprint in the province,” says Pierre van Wyk, MD of Kallvest.

“In addition to this, we were impressed by the company’s strong financials and operational record.

Iqela provides a thorough service and goes the extra mile for its clients – something that we also strive to do for our clients; so, we believe that the two companies are a good fit,” commented Van Wyk. According to Van Wyk, the acquisition is in line with Kallvest’s vision to enter the Eastern Cape market and thereby increase its national footprint.

Established in 2008, Iqela owner, Neil Harvey, will remain with the company as Regional Manager, Kallvest Eastern Cape with a material stake in Kallvest EC (Pty) Ltd. “This was a good step for Iqela as it opens up opportunities for our staff who are keen to gain national experience in our challenging field. We are excited about working together

Pierre van Wyk

as we welcome Kallvest’s expertise and believe this deal will also enable greater work experience opportunities for Iqela staff and we are confident the deal will result in improved services for our clients,” says Harvey.

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industry news Specialised cleaning at power station

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eading rope access specialist Skyriders is in the process of completing industrial vacuum cleaning work at Tutuka power station in Mpumalanga on hard-to-reach structures that are inaccessible to standard methods such as scaffolding as part of Eskom’s continued maintenance strategy.

Fly ash debris can have negative effects on the environment and efficiency of a power station, and the national power utility appointed Skyriders in November 2013 to undertake the challenging process of removing this debris along all inaccessible structures, including the boiler house, turbine hall, ash handling plant, structural beams, side walls, and cable trays.

Fly ash is a residue produced from the combustion of coal, and

is damaging to power station infrastructure, as it causes blockages.

Skyriders marketing manager Mike Zinn points out that a large team of rope access specialists are currently onsite at Tutuka in order to remove this harmful debris.

“The 3 654 MW Tutuka facility is an important link in the 765kV extra-highvoltage transmission system linking Mpumalanga with the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, and the risk of any unforeseen downtime is immense.

The sheer volumes of fly ash is a major challenge. However, Skyriders boasts in-depth experience on similar Eskom projects, and our rope access technicians are proficient in utilising industrial grade vacuum cleaners at height to remove the debris,” explains Skyriders marketing manager Mike Zinn.

With a zero-fatality record spanning more than 16 years, Skyriders has developed a reputation as the leading provider of rope access-aided inspection, non-destructive testing (NDT) and maintenance-related services to the South African power generation industry.

Skyriders industrial vacuum cleaning work at Tutuka power station in Mpumalanga.

New insights on air contamination and hand hygiene in washrooms

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s well as being a sponsor and speaker, ETS, the European Tissue Symposium, will also be exhibiting during the 25th jubilee edition of ISSA/INTERCLEAN Amsterdam that will be held over 6–9 May 2014 in Amsterdam RAI, The Netherlands.

ETS will be presenting new research findings on air contamination associated with different hand drying methods and the implications for hand hygiene in washrooms. It will also showcase a

selection of the entries and winners of its International Cartoon Contest 2013, by exhibiting these during the show.

The ETS stand will be a central meeting point for everyone actively involved with, and interested in, the value chain of tissue paper in the Away from Home markets. Most of ETS’ members, representing 90 percent of the European tissue market, are also exhibiting at the exhibition.

“Hand drying is a crucial part of the hand washing process and ETS recognises that it needs to have an active presence at important industry gatherings such as ISSA/INTERCLEAN,” says Roberto Berardi, president of ETS. “These events are where professionals operating in the cleaning, healthcare, (food) manufacturing and hospitality sector come to learn, meet and network. They need to be confident of making the right choices related to hygiene and health promotion and

provide their patients, employees and clients with a washroom environment that upholds the highest standards.

Hand hygiene is recognised as the most important standard measure to prevent cross contamination or transmission of nosocomial hospital acquired infections and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of single use towels in its poster on hand washing,” Roberto Berardi concludes.

While in the past research investigated and compared contamination on hands, hand drying devices and floors in washrooms, new results to be presented at the exhibition will bring insights into air contamination.

The conference on “Why Hygiene is Important in the Washroom” will take place on May 8th from 11h30–13h00 and will be presented by Professor Mark Wilcox (University of Leeds, UK) and Keith Redway (University of Westminster, UK).

From left to right: Theo Lingmont, Director of International Exhibitions at Amsterdam RAI; Roberto Berardi, President European Tissue Symposium and Rob den Hertog, Manager of ISSA/Interclean.

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feature contract cleaning

Contract cleaning In an exclusive interview with African Cleaning Review, Bidvest Managed Solutions Group Managing Director Johan du Toit shares his thoughts and perceptions of the burgeoning contract cleaning industry in South Africa.

As the head of the country’s largest facility services outsourcing group his invaluable experience and views on the state of the industry offer a frank and noteworthy perspective.

in highlighting professionalism within the industry whilst focusing on trends and developments. I am confident that by continuously raising the bar with regard to standards and best practices, a greater understanding and appreciation is created for this often unappreciated but essential service.

Johan du Toit

What level of service is currently provided by cleaning companies in South Africa?

It is generally good, although service levels obviously vary from company to company. Most clients outsource, mainly because they are not cleaning professionals and generally cleaning companies provide a quality service to address this need.

Are the necessary cleaning standards in place?

Most definitely, but you still get the so-called ‘fly by nights’ who operate with complete disregard for industry standards. There is however a big drive by the National Contract Cleaners Association (NCCA) to professionalise the industry.

Ultimately, this initiative will elevate the credibility of the entire industry, thereby also creating sustainable employment opportunities. As the mouthpiece of the industry African Cleaning Review plays a major part

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What strategy should cleaning operators utilise to engage customers and to monitor levels of client satisfaction?

This is vital and I can comment on what we are doing. We operate a call centre helpdesk at certain contracts with a response time matrix in place.

This is supplemented by service level agreements based on specifications and scope. In healthcare environments, quality controllers input data on handheld digital devices that process the data in terms of scoring and quality. In addition, key accounts staff should regularly visit top clients in order to obtain direct feedback, not purely considering cleaning, but considering the bigger picture or vision as to where one would like to be aligned with the client going forward. Obviously it is not always possible to see all clients and this will largely be determined by one’s infrastructure, therefore it remains a careful balancing act, but it is not completely failsafe. All relevant quantitative and qualitative inputs should be collated on a CRM platform to provide a holistic overview to management.

How important is the old saying – “selling what you do and do what you sell”?

It is of crucial importance. Invariably you get sales people who just want to do a deal and operations are left with unrealistic promises to deliver on. It is imperative to specify the job correctly, irrespective of whether you stand the chance of losing the deal. Be upfront by detailing quality, frequency and quality of equipment and consumables. Sales staff should also be involved during the handover process to ensure that whatever was promised can be effectively delivered. As far as possible, sales and operations staff should operate within the same division, operating in unison to create an understanding of adjustments in terms of norms and to be kept abreast with new innovations.

How do you define customer satisfaction?

A satisfied client is a contented client that will settle your invoice promptly.

It is a very broad term, but we are attempting to get a general overview of the company. We employ the services of an external company to perform client interviews within the segments of our markets. Typically we select 350 clients for telephonic interview purposes in order to obtain a nett score per region or province.

I think it is important to satisfy your client, but there is also a limit and it should not be ‘at all costs’, as you still have to operate a viable business at the end of the day.

I am confident that by continuously raising the bar with regard to standards and best practices, a greater understanding and appreciation is created for this often unappreciated but essential service.

Are ‘loss leader’ contracts a realistic consideration in an overall portfolio?

I suppose it is each cleaning company’s prerogative. It definitely cannot be a house of cards. There is always a danger that if you take on two or three contracts at a loss because, for instance, it will create a national deal, that management might change and they decide to cherry pick, thereby resulting in say five to ten ‘loss making’ contracts.

It is preferable to run each contract with the intention of making a profit.

There may be areas where you decide to go in at a lower mark-up, because you realise the future potential and strategically you would like to enter or grow the market, but it should never be at a loss.

Are there increasing demands from facility managers, property owners and other clients to deliver sustainable, environmentally friendly products?

It is definitely a growing demand because corporates initially created the demand. Originally, environmentally friendly products

were perceived to be expensive, however they are not.

Speaking from our own experience, we made significant strides in the implementation of environmentally friendly products at the Confederations Cup in 2009 and the World Cup in 2010 at seven major stadiums. We utilised this experience to completely convert to green products during 2013. It is important to realise that the initial setup costs are slightly higher than conventional products, however maintenance and sustainability comes in at the same price. Therefore it is clearly the way to go, both from an environmental aspect, as well as in terms of differentiating your company’s client offering. The Bidvest Academy has discussed a pilot phase with the Green Building Council in terms of which cleaning professionals can assist their clients to achieve a green star rating for existing buildings.

It is important to realise that green cleaning is not just about chemicals, it also involves equipment, techniques and knowledgeable staff, which is imperative considering staff is a cleaning company’s biggest asset.

Is there a trend towards providing a basket of services?

Yes, very much so. For example, Bidvest Managed Solutions was created specifically to cater for this need in the market. This basket includes cleaning, landscaping, toilet hire, training and events. Just consider the traditional process – companies have generated tender documents for five or six different services that in turn will generate five or six different invoices, therefore technically, by providing a basket of services, you are performing one person’s duties for that company. I think that is where facility companies have been quite successful.

They have actually pushed that administrative service or function onto the bundled supplier. Thereby, as a self-service supplier, you now perform the consolidation process and just generate a single invoice or statement. It is also becoming broader based as many procurement managers opt for the ‘one company, multiple service’ approach. With the addition of TFMC to our stable of companies, we are in a position to offer soft services, maintenance and hard facility services.

Clients can without a doubt expect a cost saving by employing multi-service organisations at their facilities.

How do professional service providers differentiate themselves in an easy entry market?

This is a real challenge as price is a big driver in this market. All companies should quote similarly,

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feature contract cleaning to their clients by informing them of the pitfalls and possible damage to their infrastructure by paying too little for the service.

Will mechanisation grow in SA due to persistent labour issues?

Current industry discussions around a possible Sector Decent Work Plan will be very important in paving the way forward. Therefore cleaning companies have to come up with more productive ways of providing a quality service and mechanisation will become the norm rather than the exception. starting from the same basis as they are all subject to the same legislation, insurance costs, wages, equipment and consumable costs. However, we all know that this is not the case. It is therefore crucial that you differentiate your company by: • staying abreast of industry trends and developments, thereby offering your client the best possible advice and solutions • providing a sustainable trained labour complement • ensuring staff are exposed to ongoing training programmes, preferably within the NQF structures • offering solutions rather than selling on price • being able to provide suitably skilled staff for specific applications • providing comprehensive insurance cover for operating areas, covering both general public and cleaner liability

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• p romoting your association with reliable, quality and forward thinking suppliers.

Would you support a reduction of service levels to align with current budgetary realities driven by the economic downturn?

We do support it up to a limit.

Strategically we have made those calls where we can, obviously where it can hurt your image or where it will be to the detriment of your business, you rather walk away. Cleaning companies have to be wary of the impact of reduced service levels on their businesses, especially as the client will not broadcast the fact that they are only paying, say 50 percent of the market cost, but the floors in the facility will show the whole picture, as your cleaning staff will be stretched well beyond their capability.

Generally facility management (FM) companies are pushing service providers to provide more for less, but I think that FM companies also have an obligation

Very much so. If I can mention our scenario, we already run a fleet in excess of 700 auto scrubbers in facilities across South Africa and this number is growing fast. It also creates a ‘catch 22’ situation, especially considering the high unemployment levels in SA. Wage negotiations in the industry are a means of balancing employment and mechanisation and the current industry discussions around a possible Sector Decent Work Plan will be very important in paving the way forward. Therefore cleaning companies have to come up with more productive ways of providing a quality service and mechanisation will become the norm rather than the exception.

Is there a general understanding of cleaning’s economic benefits?

Specialised industries do understand it more than others; it is where you get a hybrid that they might argue to do it cheaper, or they may ask you not to quote on specialised cleaning equipment. The food, hospitality and healthcare industries are obviously the leaders in cleanliness and hygiene, as contamination can spell disaster in these market sectors.

Is the industry doing enough to identify and promote responsible and compliant cleaning service providers?

At the outset I would have to say no, we are not doing enough. We have always been involved with the NCCA and currently we are supporting a big drive to professionalise that body and to promote it to the entire industry in terms of the added value it offers. At the moment though I don’t think the NCCA or the industry is doing enough in terms of actually promoting it as a professional body with professional standards for compliance. In my opinion we tend to focus more on the small service providers that are not compliant. Let’s look ahead and lead the way, hopefully those others will follow.

feature contract cleaning What are the SA demographics in terms of size of cleaning companies?

With the addition of Royalserve to our cleaning service portfolio we employ the majority of cleaners, with just over 45 000 people. In the top end of the professional cleaning market I would estimate that 80 percent of the outsourced market is covered by about ten companies. There are 20 companies that employ more than 1 000 people and sixty percent of the 1 000 companies employ fewer than 50 people. It needs to be mentioned though, that the majority of cleaning is still performed inhouse, especially government facilities, therefore abundant potential exists in the future for cleaning professionals.

What can be done to promote outsourcing of cleaning and the profession generally?

Initially it used to be promoted as ‘we can do it cheaper’. However those

days are long gone with the industry becoming more professional, which has created the phrase ‘outsource to professionals’.

During 2013 outsourcing was tainted with the labour broking issue that created considerable debate about whether outsourcing should be considered as labour broking.

Outsourcing is clearly not labour broking. To a certain extent a stigma is still attached to positions in the lower end of the market; however, multiple career opportunities exist and graduates are now starting off in the cleaning industry and developing a career path for themselves. It should be sold to our tertiary instutions as a formal career opportunity, much like in Europe where cleaning industry universities are already a reality.

Your predictions for the industry over the medium term?

Cleaning will definitely continue

to grow as an industry offering many business and employment opportunities. Government may still opt for inhouse cleaning, but private business in general will continue to outsource cleaning.

The hospitality industry is a good example of increased outsourcing, where the complete running of an establishment will be effected through outsourcing. In terms of equipment availability, I foresee that we will continue to follow European trends. In order to maintain a professional face for the industry, a complete database of professional and compliant service providers will see the light, to be utilised by facility owners in order to make informed decisions regarding the appointment of reputable contractors.

Staff training will continue to be an important aspect in the creation of industry career opportunities thereby increasing standards and boosting professionalism.

African Cleaning Review March/April 2014

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educational

Study reveals paper towels are the most hygienic way to dry hands Leading European microbiologists and hospital hygienists have produced a scientific consensus statement in Brussels upholding evidence that hand drying using paper towels is associated with lower numbers of microbes on the hands and in the washroom environment than using warm air dryers or high velocity air dryers.

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he consensus statement provides sound advice for those offering services to offices, manufacturing plants and all workplaces to provide clients with a washroom environment that upholds the highest standards of hygiene.

The six experts, working in hospitals and universities in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the UK have signed an eight-point consensus – Hand drying: An important part of hand hygiene. It highlights the importance of hand drying, following thorough hand washing and notes that air drying blows water containing microbes off the hands, which can contaminate others in the washroom environment. Signatories to the consensus examined a wide selection of scientific literature and also the studies sponsored by the European Tissue Symposium, in particular those undertaken by Eurofins-Inlab in Germany and the University of Westminster in the UK.

Cleaning and the facilities management sector should provide paper towels in washrooms to offer staff and clients optimal protection from infection “From the results we have examined, it appears that there may be a greater risk of exposure to microbes associated with some types of hand dryers. There was an increased level of microbial contamination on and beneath air dryers, particularly jet air dryers. These findings have implications for the prevention of the spread of microbes and infections, and could result in

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2014

reduced illness and time off sick and so ultimately provide economic benefit too,” said Marc Van Ranst, professor in virology and chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Leuven in Belgium, and one of the signatories to the consensus.

“We urge that they be explored further by companies, cleaning and facilities’ managers and beyond.”

Hand hygiene is recognised as the most important standard measure to prevent cross contamination or transmission of nosocomial hospital acquired infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of paper towels in its poster on hand washing. The consensus statement will hopefully prompt further research and steer policy guidance in all workplace washrooms – particularly those where workers are involved in the preparation of food.

“Paper tissue absorbs water and micro-organisms,” said Roberto Berardi, chairman of the European Tissue Symposium. “It is crucial that washrooms offer a method of hand drying that minimises the risk of recontaminating the hands and blowing microbes onto yourself, others or surfaces around you. This scientific consensus is an important step in supporting our efforts to promote paper towels as the most hygienic hand-drying solution,” concluded Berardi.

Consensus statement Hand drying: An important part of hand hygiene – Conclusions reached by a panel of European scientists.

• T he importance of hand washing to prevent the spread of infection is widely accepted by scientists.

However, hand drying has received much less attention.

• Some microbes remain on the hands after washing, and these are more easily spread around if hands are not dried adequately.

• Proper hand drying completes the hand washing process by reducing the risk of transmission of microbes.

• Generally available hand drying methods in public washrooms are based on either water absorption (single use paper and textile towels) or water dispersal by several ways (warm air dryers, high velocity air dryers).

• There is evidence that hand drying using towels is associated with lower numbers of microbes both on the hands and in the washroom environment than using warm air dryers or high velocity air dryers.

• Warm air dryers are less efficient than other methods at drying the hands. Damp hands are more likely to transfer microbes.

• High velocity air dryers are particularly likely to spread microbes because they blow water that contains microbes off the hands. These microbes could contaminate the user, other persons and the washroom environment.

• These points have implications for the prevention of the spread of microbes and potential infection, especially in settings where hygiene is very important.

Therefore, the choice of hand drying methods should take into account the risk of contaminating the hands, other individuals or the environment.

The Scientific consensus statement was reached based on research commissioned by the European Tissue Paper Industry Association (ETS), from the University of Westminister, UK on microbiological counts on hands, and from EurofinsInlab, Germany on microbiological counts on drying devices and floors.

Key findings Microbiological counts on hands: • After washing and drying hands with the warm air dryer the total number of bacteria was found to increase on average on the finger pads by 194 percent, and on the palms by 254 percent.

• Drying with the jet air dryer resulted in an increase (on average) of the total number of bacteria on the finger pads by 42 percent, and on the palms by 15 percent.

• After washing and drying hands with a paper towel, the total number of bacteria was reduced (on average) on the finger pads by up to 76 percent and on the palms by up to 77 percent.

Microbiological counts on the hand-drying devices: • On average, a user of a jet air dryer is likely to be exposed to over 1 000 times more microorganisms than the user of a

paper hand towel dispenser.

• O n average the user of a jet air dryer is likely to be exposed to around 800 times more potentially harmful Staphylococci than the user of a paper hand towel dispenser.

• More than 50 percent of the jet air dryers were contaminated by coliforms, whereas none were found on the paper hand towel dispensers.

Microbiological counts on floors: • The floors under jet air dryers had (on average) 20 times greater levels of contamination when compared with the floors under paper hand towel dispensers.

• The floors under jet air dryers had (on average) 27 times greater levels of Staphylococci when compared with the floors under paper hand towel dispensers.

• Coliforms (a class of bacteria present in faeces) were detected

in 46 percent of the samples taken from the floors below jet air dryers, whereas only 10 percent of the samples under the paper hand towel dispensers contained coliforms.

• The jet air dryer, which blows air out of the unit at claimed speeds of 692km per hour, was capable of blowing micro-organisms from the hands and the unit and potentially contaminating other washroom users and the washroom environment up to 2 metres away. Use of a warm air dryer spread micro-organisms up to 0.25 metres from the dryer. Paper towels showed no significant spread of microorganisms.

ETS members represent the majority of tissue paper producers throughout Europe and around 90 percent of the total European tissue production. ETS was founded in 1971 and is based in Brussels.

African Cleaning Review March/April 2014

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2014

African Cleaning Review March/April 2014

17

facilities management review

SAPOA concerned over escalating property rates

Facility management: Proactive vs reactive

The steep escalation in municipal costs in South

Jeannea Jones is a facilities condition assessment

Africa has led to the SA Property Owners, Association

(FCA) specialist for Sodexo. From her vast

(SAPOA) appointing specialist consultancy Rates

experience in facilities and project management in

Watch to research budgets for the coming year.

a large university setting to her extensive training

By Jeannea Jones

in human resources management, Jeannea brings

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he mandate from SAPOA, the voice of the commercial and industrial property sector, is to focus on unearthing budget information from the 11 largest municipalities on key property-related costs, such as rates and taxes, electricity and water.

Rates Watch must also identify, analyze and collect data on relevant municipal policies and legislation and the medium-term revenue and expenditure frameworks at these large municipalities.

SAPOA warned last year that commercial property owners were poised to challenge the major urban municipalities over high increases in rates, which they said were unsustainable.

Estienne de Klerk, SAPOA’s president, said last year that the association would question the legality of these increased rates and, if it did not receive a satisfactory response, it would approach the local government minister, or even the finance minister.

“Challenging municipalities in court will be our last resort. We have always had a collaborative approach with government and try to resolve these things out of court,” said De Klerk. However, SAPOA chief executive Neil Gopal has adopted a softer approach, stating that its primary goal was to alert property owners and investor members to changes in property-related municipal costs that could affect them.

“As a sector, commercial and industrial property wants to contribute in a positive way towards the efficient functioning of municipalities. SAPOA members contribute significantly to the rates base and we believe it is in the interest of ourselves and municipalities across South Africa to partner on this matter,” commented Gopal.

Gopal did admit that rising municipal rates and taxes were ‘a hot-button issue’ and one that negatively affected not only operating costs and gross rentals but also made demands on property management resources.

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a unique perspective to the FM industry. She has compiled multiple certifications including FMP and SFP through IFMA, and Human Resources Management (SHRM), and is a member of IFMA and APPA.

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s with most things in life, an offensive position yields better results than a defensive one. The same holds true in facility management (FM).

Plant operations and maintenance (POM) personnel encounter reactive situations on a daily basis, but the wise FM professional who approaches service from a proactive position will be able to avert many equipment failures and down time, thus positively impacting the ‘quality of life’ for the building campus community.

Let’s break down the differences in the two approaches.

Reactive management Reactive management is basically the ‘run it until it breaks’ maintenance philosophy. It is crisis-based by nature, coming up with solutions well after problems develop. No actions or efforts are taken to maintain the equipment as the designer or manufacturer originally intended to ensure design life is reached.

A reactive approach spends too much time fighting fires and can easily be blindsided by crisis situations. Although when critical events happen, it is imperative that a quick thinking response and solution be delivered, but this should not be a normal daily practice.

facilities management review

Signs of a reactive management programme: • Maintenance activities appear to be somewhat chaotic and heavily people-dependent with increased labour costs.

• Increased costs due to unplanned downtime of equipment; equipment and building components are frequently broken and inoperative.

• Service and maintenance calls are typically not responded to in a timely manner.

• Normal usage and deterioration continues unabated, making building and equipment inadequate to meet present usage needs.

This maintenance philosophy allows machinery to run to failure, providing for the repair or replacement of damaged equipment only when obvious problems occur.

Proactive management Proactive management involves foresight; it is real-time measurements that detect the onset of system degradation, anticipation of mechanical failure or end-of-life cycle deterioration.

A proactive organisation has contingencies in place, such as back-up generators for power outages.

If a programme is designed to identify crisis before it happens, it will inevitably be able to diminish the negative consequences once it happens. The foundation for proactive management is preventive maintenance, which will extend the equipment life, thus reducing downtime.

Signs of a proactive management programme: • Maintenance activities appear to be organised and focused with improved worker and environmental safety.

• Equipment and building components are fully functional and in operating condition with increased component life cycle.

• Reduced equipment and/or process failure.

• Realised cost savings (estimated average of 12 to 18 percent over a reactive maintenance programme).

• Service and maintenance calls are responded to in a timely manner.

• Buildings and equipment are regularly upgraded, keeping them current with modern standards and usage.

• Preventive maintenance is scheduled and completed through the CMMS. • During routine maintenance tasks, deficiencies are noted and addressed as they arise.

This philosophy consists of scheduling maintenance activities only if and when mechanical or operational conditions warrant it – by periodically monitoring the machinery for excessive vibration, temperature and/or lubrication degradation or by observing any other unhealthy trends that occur over time.

When the condition gets to a predetermined unacceptable level, the equipment is shut down to repair or replace damaged components so as to prevent a more costly failure from occurring. In other words, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”

Reactive facility management is a typical problem and one that is easy to fall into by taking the path of least resistance.

Do not get stuck in the endless loop of reacting to emails and emergency phone calls. Preventive maintenance programmes (regular maintenance to equipment during the productive phase to increase longevity) will result in fewer impending component failures and greater system reliability.

It is not possible to anticipate every potential failure, but it is possible to have a plan. That is what a proactive maintenance with a contingency approach provides – the plan.

Source: IEHA March 2014

African Cleaning Review March/April 2014

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advertorial NCCA

Unscrupulous cleaning contractors will soon face a red card The case for compliance In an industry where cleaning contractors are facing increasing legislation in order to become compliant, it is not unusual to hear ‘I didn’t know we had to do that’; or ‘Yes we know we’re supposed to, but we currently don’t have the time/money/ resources to address the issue’.

Being ignorant of the law is one thing, but flouting the law to gain a competitive advantage is a dangerous game and offenders will, sooner or later, be ‘red-carded’!

Protecting industry integrity Compliance benefits • Your National Contract Cleaners’ Association (NCCA) membership certificate will show your company is in good standing, provided it is compliant and subscriptions are paid up to date.

• Only members in good standing are eligible to tender where membership of the NCCA is a criterion.

• Your customers have peace of mind knowing their cleaning contractor is compliant.

• Compliance gives you bragging rights with existing customers and when quoting for new business.

• Compliance effectively communicates your company’s integrity and enhances your professional image.

• Facts and data required for the audit become useful management information.

Non-compliance obstacles • NCCA certificate of membership won’t be issued even if membership subscriptions are up to date.

• Where NCCA membership is a tender requirement your company will be regarded as not eligible.

• A non-compliant company and its customers could be exposed to prosecution.

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2014

It is unfortunate that the professional cleaning industry has been labelled incorrectly by some as labour broking, but the facts speak differently: • Professional cleaning staff are supervised by their employer and not by their customer.

• Cleaners are provided with equipment, chemicals and consumables.

• Cleaners receive task and site specific training.

• Cleaning companies are accountable for staff health and safety.

• Cleaners have a choice of designated career path opportunities within the industry and across other sectors.

Most importantly, an industry that regulates itself by demanding compliance with legislation and regulations is confirming its integrity and commitment to the adherence of ethical and professional standards.

advertorial NCCA ... an industry that regulates itself by demanding compliance with legislation and regulations is confirming its integrity and commitment to the adherence of ethical and professional standards.

The road to compliance is straightforward All businesses in South Africa are faced with a range of legislation with which they must comply. This includes, but is not limited to company tax, PAYE deductions, VAT, UIF, skills development levies, registration with COID, submission of employment equity plans and more!

In addition, the Cleaning Industry has to comply with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (75/1977): Amendment of Sectoral Determination 1: Contract Cleaning Sector.

Don’t be intimidated by the long title! It simply covers issues specific to the cleaning industry such as wage rates, working hours, bonus payments and membership of the Contract

Cleaners National Provident Fund, for example.

The easiest way to find out what criteria you need to meet to achieve compliance is to download the checklist used by the auditors, available on the NCCA’s website (www.ncca.co.za). It lists the requirements for compliance and the type of evidence you will need to prove it. This is all straightforward information easily available from your payroll department.

In addition, the NCCA is planning to offer capacitation workshops to take you through the checklist to assist in preparation for an audit.

request a date and time that would suit you for an auditor to visit your offices and complete the audit.

With a little preparation from your payroll staff, the audit will take two hours or less, depending on the availability of information. There is no need to print anything specifically for the audit as no paperwork is taken away.

Presently three auditors are tasked with completing the audits, and all are familiar and closely associated with the professional cleaning industry. Auditors have a confidentiality agreement with the NCCA and no sensitive information goes beyond the NCCA’s audit committee.

This article was written by the National Contract Cleaners’ Association’s (NCCA) team of compliance auditors to remind cleaning contractors of the benefits of being compliant, to make the case for the Contract Cleaning Industry regulating itself and to dispel concerns about compliance and demystify the audit process.

Your Association supports compliance When you’re ready for a compliance audit, contact the NCCA secretariat to

For more information on compliance contact: Neeri Stroebel at neeri@ncca.co.za

African Cleaning Review March/April 2014

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feature carpet cleaning

Top tips to toughen up your carpet cleaning regime Facility managers and Housekeepers are under mounting pressure to deliver results when it comes to maintaining carpeted areas. In this article Mike Egerton, MD of Host UK, explains how success is easily achievable, when given solid, practical advice.

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s more and more facilities move towards equipment use 24 hours a day, seven days a week, how to keep a carpet in service round the clock – both in common areas and in individual rooms and offices – presents both a challenge and an opportunity.

The appearance or performance of carpet in common areas is often disappointing, particularly in lobbies, hallways and lower floor entrances to lifts. Turnaround time on cleaning individual rooms, classrooms, hospitality suites, ballrooms and other spaces remains critical. Often the carpet is cleaned intermittently, after soil has built up and is visible, but preventing odours and sometimes mould growth in rooms is also crucial.

In terms of sheer performance, we are asking a lot of a carpet. Proper cleaning and maintenance must be carried out to ensure high performance. It is important in this context to realise that changing the flooring system does not change the amount of dirt that is brought into the facility. Acknowledging this critical fact will help provide maintenance planning and schedules that achieve real, satisfying carpet performance.

Therefore from a practical day-to-day maintenance point of view, where does the manager begin? What should they do to keep carpeted areas clean and in constant service?

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2014

Cleaning the carpet once soiling can be seen will not solve the previously mentioned problems. Therefore, here are some recommendations that will make significant, immediate differences in keeping carpeted areas clean and contributing to a healthy physical environment.

Top 10 tips 1. By keeping parking areas, pavements and adjacent exterior areas clean, less dirt will end up inside. More than 90 percent of dirt on indoor carpeting is tracked in on shoe soles, therefore think defensively; consider banning chewing gum use, provide lidded beverage (perhaps branded) containers and look at the type of spills/spots and other dirt that gets on the carpet. Think creatively.

2. Walk-off mats at all entrances should have a pile, be at least metres long and be able to trap both dry dirt and moisture. It is important to include these mats in the daily vacuuming activities, which will remove a great deal of dirt being tracked in.

3. Daily vacuuming is the single most important thing to do. Vacuum all high-traffic areas, for example entrances and main hallways, and it may even be necessary to vacuum some entrances twice a day.

The more vacuuming you do, the less cleaning you will need to do, but note that suction-only vacuums don’t clean carpets but rather litterpick the surface.

4. Remember the majority of the dirt that comes into the building is dry dirt and is removed most effectively through vacuuming. Many carpet manufacturers recommend pile lifting as an important step in maintaining carpets. This process opens the yarns, standing them up vertically, therefore regular vacuuming is more effective. Again, simple tub vacuums, although great general pieces of equipment, are not sufficient but rather a brushing/ vacuuming machine is required.

5. You don’t have to clean the entire carpet, just the areas of greatest use. While wall-to-wall cleaning is occasionally needed, concentrate your resources on the areas of greatest use. A dry extraction cleaning method can be excellent for this purpose. This method of cleaning has the unique ability to clean carpet where it is needed, plus the area can be opened to traffic immediately, as little moisture is required. Thus zero drying time will be required and no residual moisture will remain to create odours or prevent the carpet from being used.

feature carpet cleaning 6. Transition areas – where carpets meet hard floor surfaces – are easy to maintain with this strategy. The carpet can be dry cleaned, returned to use immediately, and users can continue to walk safely from the clean carpet onto the hard surfaces.

7. Make sure that your vacuums are in good operating condition.

Check belts, beater bar, brush agitators, vacuum bags and filters; the brand is less important than the care and maintenance of the vacuum.

Even the best vacuum performs poorly when not maintained!

8. Spend more time and effort cleaning and vacuuming ground floor areas. The dirt comes from the outside at ground level, therefore the more you clean there; less is needed on the upper floors.

9. Carpeting the lift goes a long way towards preventing the spread of dirt to upper floors.

Be sure to vacuum lift floors every day and deep clean them at least weekly. Dry cleaning achieves this objective and allows quick turnaround of the lifts with less inconvenience.

10. Establish a simple spot removal programme, which encourages and makes it easy to clean up and remove spots every day.

An incredibly simple technique is to use the HOST Zapper System; there is no mixing of chemicals and no risk of damage through over wetting. Since the best time to clean a spot is immediately, we encourage placing a bag of dry cleaner or Zapper system on each cleaning cart. This way spots can be quickly addressed whilst, for example, the room or area is being serviced.

Above all, make carpet care a planned routine operation and the carpet will look good for much longer.

Host products are distributed in South Africa

by Industroclean. For more information contact: wendym@industroclean.co.za

Tips on how to dispose of carpet cleaning wastewater Summer is always regarded as the busiest time for the carpet cleaning industry and a common issue that all carpet cleaners must grapple with is how to dispose of wastewater.

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ccording to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, wastewater can contain several different types of bacteria, body fluids, human and animal waste, chemical compounds, oil, grease, smoke, airborne pollutants, detergents, solvents, and more – all potentially hazardous to human health and the environment.

“Because of this, properly disposing of wastewater is critical and in the US for instance, most states have a variety of rules and regulations on how it must be handled,” says Doug Berjer, product manager at CFR, manufacturers of carpet extractors that recycle water.

Berjer offers the following tips on how carpet cleaning specialists and all cleaning professionals can safely and properly discharge wastewater: • In most communities and in most carpet cleaning situations, wastewater can be discharged by pouring it into a sink, toilet, bathtub, or most other drainage systems as long as it is connected to the municipal sewer infrastructure.

• Discharge water should be filtered to remove carpet fibres and other solids in order to prevent clogging pipes.

• Filtered debris typically can be put in trash containers unless it contains hazardous materials.

• If the wastewater contains hazardous materials, it should be taken to public or private facilities that are equipped to handle such wastewater.

• Never discharge wastewater by pouring it on the ground or into storm drains.

• For safety and liability reasons, maintain a log each time carpet

cleaning is performed listing the discharge water disposal method, amount, and any special handling requirements.

“Wastewater disposal has become a more serious problem in recent years and utmost care should be taken by building owners in order to protect the environment,” adds Berjer.

CFR, a Tacona company designs and manufactures a complete range of ecofriendly carpet cleaning systems and high performance speciality tools with an innovative, patented technology that is radically different from other carpet cleaning systems. Continuous Flow Recycling (CFR) technology provides superior moisture-controlled cleaning, faster drying times, and increased cleaning productivity that is said to be unmatched compared to standard carpet extractors on the market today.

Through a state-of-the-art recycling filtration system, coupled with moisturecontrolled atomisation wand technology to minimise carpet moisture, CFR is said to be the greenest carpet cleaning system available.

For more information visit: www.cfrcorp.com

African Cleaning Review March/April 2014

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interview newell rubbermaid

Continuous development, innovation and new focus secures growth Having returned from the UK last year to take over the reins at Newell Rubbermaid South Africa for a second time, MD Amanda Martin shares her thoughts on the recent changes in the Newell Group and more specifically the plans and visions for the South African operation that recently implemented a drastic cut back in the number of appointed distributors.

Background Returning to South Africa was never on the agenda, therefore my sudden return to this country to head up Newell Rubbermaid was quite unexpected. The fact is, I still remain a director for the company’s OEM business, therefore I still have to look after my European position whilst in South Africa.

In addition to the Rubbermaid Commercial Products business in South Africa, I also currently occupy the MD position of the IRWIN Tools business and I am also responsible for the office products business, which includes brands such as Parker, Waterman, Sharpie, Papermate and Dymo. However Rubbermaid Commercial Products is still the largest segment of our business in South Africa and it is also the fastest growing business, especially in the core products of washroom and cleaning.

During 2013, Newell decided to take a closer look and evaluate everything in order to consolidate all their business that previously operated with their own management teams and their own P & L’s etc. under one banner. The result was that during 2013 Newell became one company with one P & L, with its head office based in Geneva, simplifying our business and removing any previous complications both internally and for the customers dealing with Newell.

Newell is not a box mover. We operate in a one-step or two-step market and

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2014

we have to look where we can sell volume and, very importantly, support the customers who are able to move volume. So, across the world we have closed accounts below certain value levels and we have also looked at the discount structures that we are offering.

Our biggest customers must get the best deals, the best offers and the best levels of support that we can offer. As a result of that, over half the accounts in South Africa have been closed. In addition, Newell took the decision to close operations in 58 countries across the world; and that included all areas of the Newell business and across all product lines, thereby allowing the company to focus on its core products, key markets and loyal customers.

Considering the above, it was therefore no surprise that upon my return to South Africa last year, my first task was to change Newell South Africa from being a satellite company that operated on its own to a company that fits in with the new Newell vision and business plan. It was quite a challenge to turn the company around and to streamline and align the local business to the rest of the world, but fortunately people embraced the change.

Going forward For 2014 the aims are to grow market share in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and for me, of course,

Amanda Martin

specifically in South Africa. Crucial to this will be to understand the progress that has been made in South Africa, what’s changed, what remains the same, assess the needs of the customers and make sure that we at Newell are still responsive and that we provide as good a service as we possibly can.

We will have a large presence at this year’s ISSA/Interclean exhibition in Amsterdam where there will be new Mechanical Sweepers & X-Carts on display. We believe that Newell products are the best in its class. The focus of our business throughout the second half of 2013 and continuing through 2014, is to continue to drive regulatory compliance excellence in the products. We now have a European Centre of Excellence at our skincare factory in Hillegom, in the Netherlands, and we have a team there who are continuously updating the regulatory aspects, compliance issues and updating the formulations to be the best possible. For example, there have been a lot of concerns around the use of Triclosan in skincare products. Newell have already decided to offer Triclosanfree formulations, thereby signaling that, where there is a concern, we are ready to be the first to act.

Another issue that we continuously strive to address, is labelling compliance.

When you sell a product in North America, one certification allows you to sell in North America, South America

interview newell rubbermaid The products sold by Newell Rubbermaid obviously still carry the great legacy of Technical Concepts. Technical Concepts produced the first ever automated dispensers in the world and we still have the claim that we have the original and best products from a technology point of view... and the Asia Pacific. When you deal with Europe, Africa and the Middle East, there are different regulations for each and every single country, so it’s one individual’s job just to track any label changes, and any regulatory changes that we need to state on packaging or anything else. When you see some of the products that are for sale in the SA market, Newell does not feel that those products are actually protecting the customers and the end user consumers who buy these products. We see it as our responsibility to take that on and to make sure that everything is done that can be done to protect the customer and the end user against any retribution that might come along if anything happens (for instance if there is a skin reaction from skincare products).

Educate the market One of our big focuses for this year is to reinstate ‘the washroom training academy’ and we are going to be out with customers in the field, on the road at their own customer gatherings and also exhibit at trade shows. We are going to go back to basics with the washroom, to teach people the correct product, the correct regulations to follow and the correct certifications to have. We will also be checking several IP infringements that we believe are currently a reality in the South African market. Newell will fiercely and resolutely protect our products against any infringement.

We do appreciate that for many years South Africa was probably considered a dumping ground for products that could not sell elsewhere, or products that were a bit behind the times, or products that weren’t quite up to the mark and we want our customers to know that this is not our vision for the local market.

The South African market is a great market for us, it is a great market for our customers, it is a developed hygiene market, and we believe that the South African market is entitled to the best products on offer and we believe that these are Newell products.

Threat of cheap imports I don’t think it is a major threat because its horses for courses. There is a ‘goodbetter-best’ in anything that you want to buy out there, and it really depends on what you want. Any product that promotes good hygiene is better than none. However, we find that our customers, especially the big players, want reliability first; they need to protect their reputation and, for some customers, we manufacture products that bear their name. So it is very important to them, because it is their reputation that is on the line as soon as you put their name or brand on that product. When importing goods, then the issue of the volatile Rand comes into play. At Newell we are able to control the market price of our products effectively.

Each time we bring a shipment in, we are not asking the customer to pay a different price for it. We fix an FX for the year, we base our price on that and generally speaking, we will have one price increase per product per year and that is it, thus the customer can buy with confidence. The customer needs to be able to sell with confidence, especially in the service market, where the customers are signing a customer to a fixed price for a year; the service company can’t go back and raise that price midterm. They certainly cannot go back two, three times or five times, so we have to try and stabilise pricing for the customer. Fortunately, one of the benefits of dealing with Newell Rubbermaid is that we can find ways to offset costs and we can absorb some of that. There are always efficiencies to be made. We are constantly looking for efficiencies in everything that we do.

Product differentiation?

I am of the opinion that Newell Rubbermaid gives the best value for money across the board of available washroom products. The package that you get from Newell Rubbermaid is not only a product in a box. What you

are getting from Newell is continuous development: we don’t rest on our laurels, the products are continually innovated, and the client gets regulatory protection, because all that work is done for them. We train people, we put the name Newell Rubbermaid out on the street every day with advertising campaigns and promotional activities. The products sold by Newell Rubbermaid obviously still carry the great legacy of Technical Concepts.

Technical Concepts produced the first ever automated dispensers in the world and we still have the claim that we have the original and best products from a technology point of view, and from a conceptual perspective. We definitely have the best set of washroom products available anywhere in the world. We help the customer to sell the product through. We create end-user demand and we help drive the sales through.

So, really what you are getting is a great product, a great formulation, fabulous performance, amazing guarantees, the marketing behind it, the training, and the expertise. This concept is so much more than just a box with a product in it.

Commitment to the SA market In a nutshell, Newell has given me a minimum 3 year and a maximum 5 year contract which is the maximum I am allowed as an expatriate. We have invested in this market and we are here for the long term. The decision to reduce the number of South African distributor agreements was a strategic decision that will allow us to place our focus where it should be: our core customer base. During 2014 Newell Rubbermaid will focus mainly on commercial cleaning and washroom products and specifically, the products that are most popular in these markets. South Africa is growing for Newell Rubbermaid and we are committed to this market for the long term.

For more information about Newell Rubbermaid South Africa visit: www.rubbermaidcommercial.co.za

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ISSA/Interclean amsterdam tour

Visit the world showcase for professional cleaning Join tour organiser Steve Braham on tour to Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from 3–10 May 2014 and experience first-hand this vibrant European city and the world’s largest exhibition for cleaning professionals.

Tour package:

More than 670 leading global brands will present their latest products, and custom designed seminars will boost your business and deepen your knowledge about the latest trends in cleaning and hygiene. From equipment to dispensers, solutions to monitoring, ISSA/INTERCLEAN Amsterdam (celebrating its 25th anniversary) has it covered.

ISSA/INTERCLEAN Amsterdam 2014 will be held from 6–9 May 2014. The clear and comprehensive exhibition programme is one of the factors contributing to the success of ISSA/INTERCLEAN Amsterdam. The exhibition showcases products and services related to professional cleaning. The exhibition programme enables visitors to make the most of their visit and promises an invaluable experience for everyone in the cleaning industry.

• 6 nights bed and breakfast at Hampshire Eden Hotel, Amsterdam • JHB – Amsterdam – JHB airfare • Airport transfers • Hotel transfer to exhibition centre on opening day • Welcome drinks – first day • Day trip to The Hague • Traditional South African boat tour on Amsterdam’s canals (drinks and snacks included) • End-of-tour three course dinner and drinks • Medical insurance (limited)

Package rates: Twin room sharing: R21 000 per person Single room single occupancy: R26 500 •

•

For more information contact Steve at: Tel: +27 11 646 9322, Mobile: +27 (0) 83 265 1268 Email: steve@sbpr.co.za

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2014

Additional day/s booking prior to, and after the show, can be arranged if required Travellers requiring land arrangements only can also be accommodated

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people and events Annual golf day Prime Cleaning Suppliers relived the ‘80s at the National Contract Cleaners’ Association’s Western Cape branch annual golf day held on 21 February 2014 at the Rondebosch Golf Course in Cape Town.

The company’s ‘80s Amercan Diner theme featuring a mirror ball, jukebox, arcade game, slinkies and Rubik’s cubes bagged it the overall winning prize for best sponsored hole on the day.

Trojan Battery ‘Steps Up’ expansion in Africa California based Trojan Battery Co., the world’s leading manufacturer of deep-cycle batteries, has appointed Alexander Hofmeyr to manage sales for Africa. Hofmeyr will be responsible for all aspects of Trojan Battery’s sales strategy in the region, including management of current distribution channels and customer accounts, as well as identifying new sales opportunities in key markets including renewable energy.

Alexander Hofmeyr “Trojan has an ambitious international growth plan for the coming fiscal years, and we are confident that Alexander’s sales and marketing background, and experience in supporting the market in Africa will play a key role in our success in the region,” said Dean Middleton, director of global sales for Trojan Battery. “Alexander’s successes in new client development and market expansion will support Trojan’s international growth strategy. In addition, his expertise in distribution channel development and program implementation, will drive an increase in market share for Trojan Battery in Africa.”

Hofmeyr has previously served in various sales and marketing roles for national and multinational companies including Kestrel Renewable Energy, a subsidiary of Eveready (Pty) Ltd. in South Africa, Vegtech (Pty) Ltd., and GE Healthcare and MLS Bank/ABSA Private Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Barclays Africa Group.

For more information visit: www.trojanbattery.com

Reach your target market cost-effectively!

Advertise in African Cleaning Review – your direct link to end-users, building service contractors, key institutional sectors including government, healthcare, education and retail centres, hospitality, food processing and general manufacturing.

The source of workplace hygiene solutions Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Website: www.africancleaningreview.co.za

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2014

Multi-purpose Wipe

Premium 1 Ply Toilet Tissue

Industrial 1 Ply Toilet Tissue

Centre Feed Towelling

NOW AVAIL ABLE Reflex Control Towelling

Giant Toilet Rolls

Unidri Regular Folded Hand Towels

Luxury 2 Ply Toilet Tissue

Pillowy Soft, the quality brand you love to use at home, can now be used away from home.

We are proud to launch our Pillowy Soft away-from-home range, giving you a competitive edge and adding value to your organisation. We are driven by our mission statement, “To add value to companies and to distribute more affordable quality products to all the people of Africa.”

The Leading Independent Tissue Paper Manufacturer in Africa Universal Tissue Pty Ltd. A Division of the Crystal Paper Group Tel: 016 341 6396/6805, Fax: 016 341 6386 Mobile: Shaun Singh – 083 656 1791, Rafik Dosani – 083 449 1188 Email: shaun@dosanigroup.co.za, rafikd@netactive.co.za, Website: www.tissuepaper.co.za African Cleaning Review March/April 2014

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new products Smoking management solutions Public health regulations continue to move smokers outdoors, making it even more important to keep cigarette butts off the ground and out of waste bins. Rubbermaid’s Smoking Management range of outdoor receptacles provide smokers with a convenient and tidy way to snuff-out cigarettes and dispose of them safely.

From the standard ash/trash steel containers to Rubbermaid’s innovative Smoker’s Pole, the company is dedicated to developing simple and easy-to-empty bins that keep pace with the current move towards outdoor smoking. Large stainless steel snuff plates, with 360° access, enable smokers to easily extinguish smoking materials before discarding. Domed tops prevent water from collecting in the canisters and built-in padlock tabs provide security. Additional features: • Sophisticated styling and all-metal construction • Waste concealment and odour control • Blends in with many architectural styles • High-capacity ash containment system For more information contact: kementhrie.naidoo@newellco.com

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new products Safety boots with soul Australian Pump has expanded their range of “Aussie Safe Operator” personal protection equipment with a range of well-priced boots for use with high pressure blasters up to 500 Bar (7 300 psi). Called Aussie Jet-Stop, the boots are professionally designed for hard work in harsh environments.

Until now there has been a gap in the market for comfortable, practical footwear capable of withstanding accidental jetting from ultra high pressure cleaners. Ultra high pressure water jets can slice open a rubber boot according to Hamish Lorenz, Aussie Pumps High Pressure Safety Trainer. Water sprayed under pressure penetrates flesh and can carry dangerous bacterial or poisons into deep into the issue. This can result in infections leading to amputation or even death,” he said.

New Aussie Jet-Stop boots are made from vulcanised rubber. The boots

provide safe, waterproof comfort for the operator. For maximum user protection the boots come with steel toecaps and steel inserts in the sole to prevent puncturing by sharp objects. Jet-Stop boots are colour coded to identify the areas of protection. The black regions, covering the talus, the lower shin as well as the toes and heal are CE Certified to be suitable for use with rotating water jet nozzle or flat angle nozzle sprays of up to 500 Bar. The soles of the boots are designed for excellent grip to reduce any risk of slipping. In particularly icy conditions,

where there extreme danger of slippage; the boots can even be fitted with spikes.

The boots have an adjustable strap at upper calf level and Australian Pump claim they are easy to put on or take off. Aussie Pumps offer a full range of personal safety equipment including jackets, trousers, overalls, aprons and gloves. All are rated for use with machines up to 500 Bar and, like the boots, designed for maximum operator comfort.

For more information visit: www.aussiepumps.com.au

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