African Cleaning Review MarchApril '21

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March/April 2021 | R61.50 (incl. VAT)

Hygiene • Cleaning • Pest Control • Laundry • Facility Management Services

Robotic deployment in retail Dosing and dilution control High pressure cleaning facts COVID-19 changed cleaning approach

contents MARCH/APRIL 2021 VOL 22 NO. 2 Cover story Prime Cleaning Suppliers is a leading South African cleaning-solutions supplier, established in 1996. Prime Cleaning Suppliers has spent a number of years building strong brands, many of which have been tested by the SABS 1828 and 1853 standards and carry their mark of surety, which gives the customer confidence when using the products. All disinfectants are registered as per Act 29 and are compliant to the VC8054 compulsory specification for disinfectants. Prime Cleaning Suppliers’ complete cleaning solutions cover paper products/dispensers, cleaning chemicals/disinfectants, floorcare machines and cleaning sundries. Prime Cleaning Suppliers has an ongoing commitment to ensure the best longterm solution to their customers and represents the following brands: Aquarius, Kleenex, Scott, Wetrok, Wypall, and Rubbermaid Commercial Products.

Opinion

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• Four ways robots will transform retail operations in 2021

Industry News

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Editorial • Hako: Offering a total industrial equipment solution • Tork: As you get back to business – secure the new hygiene standard • Numatic: Introducing the SERVO-Matic cleaning trolley • GCE: The power of pressurised water with appropriate flow cleans up

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• Global Hygiene Institute to promote behaviour that improves global hygiene • National Minimum Wage 2021 increase • Campaign aims to restore Johannesburg’s sparkle • Bidvest reports half-year profit rise • Amended SANS 490 provides greater and more detailed requirements for hand sanitisers and hand rubs • GBAC STAR Service Accreditation for cleaning companies

Educational • How to improve surface cleaning in your restaurant • Cleaning industry changes brought about by COVID-19

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Features

• Dosing and dilution control 10 – Clean facilities helping to combat the spread of infection – Why you should use a washroom dosing system • High-pressure cleaning 14 – Need to know facts about inlet supply for high-pressure pumps

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FM Review • Cleaning your facility is just the first step – communication makes it impactful

Laundry Review

@AfricanCleanMag

AfricanCleaningReview

african-cleaning-review Publishing Editor: Johann van Vuuren +27 (0) 11 238 7848 or +27 (0) 72 611 1959 Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Advertising: +27 (0) 11 238 7848 or +27 (0) 72 611 1959 Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Operations and Accounts: Nandé Jacobs Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za All editorial contributions can be sent to the editor who reserves the right to publish editorial based on the strength of its content. No articles or photographs may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publishers.

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.

Planned features for 2021 Feature sections in every issue: • Laundry and dry cleaning review • Facilities management review May/June issue: Editorial deadline 16 April • Hard floorcare cleaning solutions • Hand hygiene Jul/Aug issue: Editorial deadline 18 June • Window and façade cleaning • Healthcare cleaning and hygiene Sept/Oct issue: Editorial deadline 20 August • Sustainable cleaning • Carpet care Nov/Dec issue: Editorial deadline 15 October • Hospitality cleaning solutions • Washroom products and cleaning

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• Preventing linen loss in healthcare and hospitality industries • Hygienically clean, corona-free even in airliners

People and Events

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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, Laundry, 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 PO Box 1976, Halfway House, 1685, South Africa Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Website: www.africancleaningreview.co.za

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• Advocating for more women in science • Celebrating 15 years of improving the environment • New appointments at Averda • High-pressure pump manufacturer collaborates with young entrepreneur • Industry loss – Brian Tanner

New Products

Published by:

Official publication and media partner of:

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• Does your sanitiser guarantee protection against SARS-CoV-2?

• New flexible hygienic wall bracket solution

African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

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from the editor

opinion

Four ways robots will transform retail operations in 2021

Disruption brings opportunities On March 5, South Africa marked the anniversary of the country’s first confirmed COVID-19 case. During the following twelve months as the pandemic took hold of the country, job losses followed, companies closed down and the economy was crippled.

However, disruption often brings opportunities and the past unusual and challenging year highlighted the essential role of cleaners as frontline staff. In addition, the global pandemic offered cleaning companies and suppliers a crucial moment to reflect and examine their operations. Increased sales of cleaning products and personal protective equipment (PPE) exceeded traditional manufacturing capacities and new opportunities for manufacturers to enter the retail market were created overnight. New opportunities have also arisen with the creation of training programs focused on how to reopen buildings for occupancy after quarantine and how to socially distance in a facility to help reduce the chances of spreading COVID-19.

Infection prevention through cleaning and disinfection is now a requirement and will remain critical in ensuring facilities are clean, healthy and safe from infectious diseases.

While the new challenges brought about by the pandemic are complicated, it is ultimately up to the professional cleaning industry to help provide the tools needed to tackle it in the most effective manner.

The relevance of cleaning should never be relegated to a grudge purchase again. By working together the increased value of cleaning in enhancing the frontline of public health should now become the “new normal”.

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African Cleaning Review May/June 2020

Robotics deployment in retail environments has seen steady growth over the past couple of years, demonstrating not only their value and efficacy but also delivering a solid ROI.

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he COVID-19 health crisis has accelerated this trend, so much so that in 2021 technologies such as autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) will begin to have a transformational impact in the retail sector, according to Michel Spruijt, VP & General Manager of Brain Corp Europe.

Below are four predictions for how these advanced technologies are positioned to help shape the retail landscape in 2021 and beyond.

period in 2019, generating an estimated 2.4 million hours of productivity.

Through these robotics deployments, retail workers were able to concentrate on more specialist cleaning tasks and other retail store operations including supporting customers. As these strategic values become increasingly validated, we expect robot deployments to grow even further in 2021.

1. R obots move from ‘nice to have’ to ‘must have’

While autonomous robots do deliver significant cost savings, their benefits go far beyond this. By carrying out manual, repetitive tasks, robots free up workers to focus on higher value tasks, including sanitising high-contact surfaces, restocking inventory, helping customers or even taking a much needed break.

Robots also enhance brand value by acting as a strong visual demonstration of a company’s commitment to smart operations, cleanliness and general innovation.

As more retail outlets deploy robots, we can expect to see the industry begin to adopt a new approach to evaluating innovative technologies using a more holistic interpretation of ROI.

Only a few years ago, robotic floor scrubbers, vacuums, and other self-driving machines that operate in dynamic public locations (including retail), were seen as a bit of novelty – an innovative solution, but not an operational priority.

This attitude shifted as the health crisis made its way around the globe and acted as an accelerant for mobile robot deployments.

As an increasing number of robots were integrated into retail operations, data supporting ROI could be tracked directly and the benefits of AMRs to retailers of all sizes was made clear.

As cleaning was given heightened priority and focus, US retailers and grocers, including Walmart and Kroger, quickly increased their usage of autonomous scrubbers to support workers and enhance efficiency.

According to Brain Corp data, the median usage of robotic scrubbers at US retail locations spiked by 14.5 percent during the first three quarters of the year compared to the same

2. Value of robotics moves beyond cost savings

3. Robotic data underpins and enhances operational performance One of the key (and often overlooked) benefits of autonomous robots is the ability of email reporting and cloudbased user portals to deliver near realtime usage data.

opinion

For instance, cleaning operations are monitored and data collected on areas covered, number of routes run, and percentage of autonomous usage versus manned. Heat maps showing areas cleaned provide detailed visual reference points. This high-resolution data allows operations and facility managers to optimise daily cleaning performance, as well as better manage compliance goals. In 2021, more managers and daily operators will use robotic data to improve their operations and demonstrate clear proof-of-work metrics.

A centralised approach using a cloudbased AI software platform will enable multiple retail robotics applications from

different equipment manufacturers to be monitored and managed collectively.

Retailers will be able to manage entire robotic fleets using centralised data hosting and reporting, built-in safety protocols, connected user experiences, and automatic software upgrades thanks to a unified cloud-connected approach.

4. Robots become smarter and easier to use Autonomous robots have traditionally been deployed in warehouse and manufacturing settings where technical support staff could oversee them.

However, in order to be viable in commercial public settings such as retail

and grocery stores, non-technical users must be able to use the technology easily and efficiently.

Robots used in retail settings must include highly intuitive user interfaces, graphical reporting, and easy deployment instructions, or employees will likely reject them in favour of traditional methods. Simplified user experiences will become a fundamental requirement for all public-facing commercial robots.

2020 was a watershed year for robotics due to a once-in-a-generation health crisis. Within the span of a few months, robots became essential to the success of retail outlets and a familiar sight in many major shopping locations.

We expect this trend to continue accelerating in 2021 and beyond.

Brain Corp are the developers of BrainOS, a pioneering AI software platform that powers the world’s largest fleet of autonomous mobile robots operating in indoor public spaces.

For more information about Brain Corp visit: www.braincorp.com

African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

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industry news Global Hygiene Institute to promote behaviour that improves global hygiene

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eckitt Benckiser (RB) announced the launch of a global initiative to generate high-quality, scientific research-based evidence to inform public health recommendations and promote behaviour that improves global hygiene. The Reckitt Global Hygiene Institute (RGHI) is a public health

research and innovation hub that will bridge epidemiology, public health, and behavioural insights to generate practical, high-quality scientific research that leads to enduring behaviour change.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed public health to the top of the global agenda. At RB, we see the need for a new paradigm that brings together the highest quality scientific-based evidence and informed public health recommendations to generate largescale behaviour change for a cleaner, healthier world”, said RB CEO Laxman Narasimhan.

He went on to say, “Today we are announcing our commitment to convene a group of multidisciplinary experts who, like us, believe real change on a global scale is within reach if we translate science-based evidence and consumer behavioural insights into sustainable hygienic practices that can be adopted globally. This ambitious goal is the result of our belief that the highest quality hygiene is a right and not a privilege.”

RB’s commitment to global hygiene research and education include: • A multi-year, $25 million investment into research aimed at filling the gaps in our understanding of the sciencebased evidence around hygiene and the behaviours and solutions necessary to sustain it.

• The formation of an Expert Panel – comprised of crossdiscipline luminaries – to guide these research efforts at leading academic institutions around the world.

• The creation of a Global Hygiene Institute with a Governing Board supported by full-time staff, ongoing research, and education programming driven by expert researchers and educators.

Through the establishment of a fellowship program with leading universities, RGHI will generate practical, informed public health research and recommendations that champion global hygiene as the foundation of health.

National Minimum Wage 2021 increase

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inister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi has announced that the National Minimum Wage for each ordinary hour worked will, as of March 2021, increase from R20.76 to R21.69.

The National Minimum Wage Act was first proclaimed in 2018, setting a historic precedent in the protection of low-earning (vulnerable) workers in South Africa and provided a platform for

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reducing inequality and huge disparities in income in the national labour market.

The National Minimum Wage was first implemented on 1 January 2019 at a level of R20 per hour.

In terms of the law it is considered unfair labour practice for an employer to unilaterally alter hours of work or other conditions of employment in implementing the National Minimum Wage. With effect from 1 March 2021,

employers shall pay contract cleaning workers at least the minimum hourly wage as detailed in the schedule below.

Employment law service Labourwise reminded employers that the National Minimum Wage excludes allowances that are paid to enable employees to work (such as transport and equipment); or payment in kind (such as board or accommodation); as well as bonuses, tips or food.

Area A

Area B

Area C

Metropolitan Councils: City of Cape Town, Greater East Rand Metro, City of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Local Councils: Emfuleni, Merafong, Mogale City, Metsimaholo, Randfontein, Stellenbosch, Westonaria

All areas in KwaZulu-Natal NB: Conditions of employment for KwaZulu-Natal areas shall be subject to the agreement concluded in the Bargaining Council for the Contract Cleaning Service Industry KwaZulu-Natal (BCCCI)

In the rest of South Africa

Rate per hour R23,87

Rate per hour R24,36

Rate per hour R21,77

African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

editorial EIE Group

Offering a total industrial equipment solution

As part of the JSE-listed enX Group, with representation across Southern Africa, the United Kingdom and Ireland, the EIE Group offers a total industrial equipment solution by providing best-in-class material handling and industrial equipment from respected brands and delivers lifetime value for our customers. In doing so we reduce our customers’ operating costs, leading to a reduction in downtime and an increase in operation profitability and efficiency. At EIE, we believe that understanding the needs of our customers is essential to fulfilling our

commitment to adding value, as well as remaining relevant and competitive in a fast-paced and ever-changing business environment. Our various business units and products complement one another, creating synergy and presenting a total solution to meet and exceed any requirements.

As the specialists in industrial cleaning and municipal machinery, Industrial Cleaning is committed to providing customers with value-driven industrial cleaning solutions. It offers a wide range of products, accessories, technical support, parts, maintenance

plans and much more from some of the industry’s leading brands such as Hako.

Hako is a leading manufacturer of premium cleaning equipment and municipal technology. The German manufacturer’s expertise lies in efficient cleaning technology, including versatile scrubber dryers, sweepers, city cleaners, combined sweepers and a range of application chemicals.

For more information about Hako industrial equipment or janitorial trolley systems contact: Wouter Niemann on 060 972 1429 or visit: www.eiegroup.co.za/ourdivisions/industrial-cleaning

Advertise in the primary African trade magazine for the commercial cleaning and hygiene sectors.

Reach your target market cost-effectively with a direct link to end-users, building service contractors, facility management and key institutional segments.

For more information regarding advertising / editorial / digital packages, email: nande@cleantex.co.za

www.africancleaningreview.co.za

African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

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industry news Campaign aims to restore Johannesburg’s sparkle

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reviously, visitors to the City of Johannesburg were awed by the shiny skyscrapers; however, now they are taken aback by the graffiti and grime that strangles the city. In an effort to combat this, city authorities are slowly but surely reclaiming the streets that have lost their lustre as a result of free-flowing litter through the KleenaJoburg campaign.

For over a year, the city has been leading a coordinated effort of identifying litter hotspots, educating businesses and residents against the dangers of dumping refuse, and cleaning up and leaving the spots litter-free.

Led by the Executive Mayor, Cllr Geoffrey Makhubo, and the Member

of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Mpho Moerane, the #KleenaJoburg campaign has been addressing service delivery in all seven regions. A budget of R10 million has been set aside to rollout the campaign.

The overarching intent is to create a clean and liveable city that attracts investment.

The ultimate goal is to have a clean city and a mobilised community which takes care of its environment by not dumping illegally, that separates waste at the source, and that practices the six Rs of waste management which are respect, rethink, reduce, reuse, repair and recycle.

The KleenaJoburg campaign is one of the key mayoral projects which aims to transform Joburg into a clean and safe environment for families and residents to enjoy. It also addresses the Growth and Development Strategy (GDS) 2040 Outcome 2 that requires the city to “provide a resilient, liveable, sustainable urban environment – underpinned by smart infrastructure supportive of a low carbon economy”.

The City has received support and established partnerships with external partners and stakeholders including Coca-Cola, the Department of Home Affairs, Windsor Cleaning Cooperatives, Hillbrow Community Cleaning cooperative and the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa.

Bidvest reports half-year profit rise

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he Bidvest Group has reported a 6.1 percent year-on-year rise in profit for the six months ended December 31, the company said. Profit was lifted by the contribution from PHS, the UK-based hygiene company bought in December 2019. It was also boosted by higher demand for hygiene and facility services, DIY products and bulk commodity services.

Bidvest had embarked on a portfolio clean-up just before the pandemic struck Africa’s most industrialised economy - its primary market. It unbundled its food services business, booked impairment costs in an airline and disposed of its vehicle transport services as a part of this clean-up.

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

Its normalised headline earnings per share (HEPS), which excludes some items such as acquisition costs and COVID-19-related expenses, was 651.6 cents for the six months, up 6.1 percent from the corresponding period a year ago. Its revenue for the period grew by 3.4 percent to 44.4 billion Rand, the company said.

Bidvest, which provides business-tobusiness solutions in cleaning, hygiene, travel, catering, freight, and logistics, declared an interim dividend of 290 cents per share, up 2.8 percent.

“Looking ahead, it is likely that the economic downturn will persist with the pace of recovery remaining largely uncertain,” said CEO Mpumi Madisa.

Mpumi Madisa

editorial Tork As you get back to business – secure the new hygiene standard Our world has changed and, because of this, we have faced new challenges.

Public spaces are now being viewed with higher hygiene apprehensions than ever before. And to do our part, we have been apart, avoiding places where we usually gather or meet. Places where we normally spend our days learning, laughing and working hard have been noticeably underpopulated over the course of the last year.

Understandably, this period has been difficult for businesses – those which remained open, those which operated in a diminished capacity, and those which paused altogether, waiting for safer times. Now, for many businesses, it’s time to resume operations and move forward in creating a new normal together. In order to help people feel safe we need to establish a new hygiene standard. This standard will become everyone’s responsibility to maintain.

With extensive global experience in professional hygiene, Tork is here to support you with all the knowledge and expertise needed to meet, and even exceed, hygiene expectations.

Providing a consistently healthy and hygienic work environment is key to employee satisfaction, well-being and productivity. As a facility manager you want to deliver a seamless experience, resulting in no complaints.

But staying in control of operations is challenging and improving operations under constant cost pressures is even harder.

Tork’s service offering with datadriven cleaning and products that are easy to use and don’t easily run out, allows for improved cleaning quality as well as operational efficiency. It empowers you to assume control, manage the unpredictable and provide a healthy visitor experience with reduced climate impact.

Read more about the importance of a clean working environment for employee well-being at: https://www.tork.co.za/your-business/ solutions/overview/office/challenge-office For additional information: email: kirsty.collard@essity.com

African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

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industry news Amended SANS 490 provides greater and more detailed requirements for hand sanitisers and hand rubs

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he South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has published the amendments to the national standard, SANS 490 that specifies the requirements for all alcohol-based hand sanitisers and hand rubs in the form of liquids, gels, foams and aerosols. These changes have been driven by global guidelines such as the requirements specified by the World Health Organization (WHO) and locally by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The amended SANS 490 was published in October 2020 and is freely available on the SABS website. The amended version supersedes the 2013 version and is effective from the date of publication.

“The amended SANS 490 provides greater and more detailed requirements for hand sanitisers and hand rubs. It is now specified that a minimum of 70 percent alcohol content is required if – alcohol, such as ethanol, isopropanol or n-propanol is the main ingredient; and that 60 percent alcohol content is required if there are other active ingredients.

Solvents such as acetone (propanone),

methanol, methylated spirits or other spirits are not allowed to be used as they can cause toxicity and even fatalities, if absorbed through one’s skin,” explains Jodi Scholtz, Lead Administrator.

Scholtz said that manufacturers must ensure that they now submit evidence that their products will retain their physicochemical properties and efficacy, for the duration of the expected shelf life of the product until the expiry date as stated on the product’s label. Packaging must clearly indicate the details of the manufacturer, the ingredients of the product, the volume and type of alcohol, and the expiry date of the product.

“Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, the SABS and its technical committee, together with regulatory authorities, have been working vigorously to review and publish South African National Standards that are able to respond efficiently to protect the health and safety of South African citizens. Even though SANS 490 was amended and published in October 2020, the testing protocols of sanitisers to verify the alcohol content was implemented prior to the publication of the standard. SAHPRA published the

requirements for alcohol-based hand rubs and sanitisers in July 2020 and the amended standard includes those product requirements,” clarifies Scholtz.

The process of developing, reviewing or amending national standards is underpinned by international best practice principles amongst others, consensus development within the SABS technical committees (TC) represented by a diverse portfolio of stakeholders. The SABS TC 1022: Antiseptics, Disinfectants and Detergentdisinfectants was responsible for the much-needed amendments.

The duration of testing against SANS 490, if conducted by SABS is approximately 20 days. For certification, or the ‘SABS-Approved’ Mark Scheme requirements, the duration is approximately three months as audits of the product and the production processes need to be conducted.

These audits include the provision of the required documentation of the production processes and shelf testing by the manufacturer.

For more information visit: www.sabs.co.za

GBAC STAR Service Accreditation for cleaning companies

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he Global Biorisk Advisory Council™ (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, has launched the GBAC STAR™ Service Accreditation Program for building service contractors (BSCs) and other outsourced cleaning service providers. The newest member of the GBAC STAR portfolio, GBAC STAR Service accreditation provides third-party validation of a cleaning service as well as information regarding the provider’s cleaning, disinfection, and infection prevention protocols and procedures.

“Building service contractors are on the frontlines of cleaning, disinfecting, and infection prevention of facilities during the pandemic, and many are looking for ways to promote their expertise,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger.

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

“Expanding GBAC STAR accreditation to these service providers enables them to expand their knowledge of cleaning, disinfection, and infection prevention, and to demonstrate to customers and prospects that they can manage risks today and in the future.” BSCs and other cleaning service providers that want to demonstrate their commitment to building occupant health and safely through a respected, third-party accreditation can achieve GBAC STAR Service accreditation by completing the program’s training requirements and implementation guidelines. This program is ideal for facilities seeking ways to prevent the spread of infection among staff, customers, and guests, and be fully prepared for potential outbreaks in the future.

“Cleaning service providers are often responsible for managing cleaning programs or working alongside established cleaning teams in facilities like schools, stadiums, convention centres, and more,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett.

“Now, BSCs can pursue GBAC STAR Service accreditation to further enhance their service offerings and complement the GBAC STAR Facility accreditation to which more than 4 000 facilities around the world are committed to achieving.”

Now cleaning service providers or facility owners or managers can apply for GBAC STAR accreditation at: gbac.issa.com/gbac-starservice-accreditation/

educational

How to improve surface cleaning in your restaurant Surface hygiene is, of course, an important pillar of food safety and customer perceptions. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) emphasises that restaurants and bars should clean and disinfect frequently touched areas “at least daily, and as much as possible”.

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eanwhile, a recent survey found that 57 percent of customers would feel more comfortable in restaurants where retailers and operators regularly and visibly wipe down tables, kiosks, and other objects that people touch.

Working surfaces always need to be ready to use.

When it comes to surface cleaning, it is, of course, not only how you do it – but where. This includes the kitchen, the front-of-the-house, and the washrooms.

First, it’s important to understand the differences between cleaning, sanitising, and disinfecting, according to Tork, an Essity brand.

Cleaning, sanitising, and disinfecting differences • Cleaning removes dirt and soil, making the surface look clean.

During the busiest part of service, cleaning may be all you are able to do, at least for certain surfaces.

• Sanitising is removing and lowering the numbers of germs to a safe level, as judged by public health standards.

• Disinfecting uses chemicals to kill germs. If you want to get your visibly clean surface hygienically clean, you must reduce the microbial load by sanitising or disinfecting after you have cleaned.

Five-part strategy for surface hygiene 1. Clean as you go policy The clean as you go policy involves taking opportunities to clean continually throughout the busy working day.

Everyone working in the kitchen is responsible for cleaning his or her area throughout the shift. For that to happen, adequate cleaning supplies need to be readily available and close to working hands (i.e., not in a cleaning cabinet).

Double check that staff are using appropriate, designated cleaning tools.

4. Document your cleaning efforts

Systematic cleaning involves deep cleaning surfaces. To make sure that you don’t forget anything, use checklists to stay on top of deep cleaning tasks.

Checklists should be detailed, including: • What needs to be cleaned • When it should be cleaned • How often it should be cleaned • Who is responsible • What cleaning method should be used

It’s important to document cleaning efforts so that you have records to show and can follow-up that cleaning is being done in the correct fashion. You may already be using checklists; however, we recommend reviewing your checklist given that the environment is riskier now than it was before. Questions to ask during the pandemic may include: • Do you need to clean new items (e.g., door handles)?

• Do you need to clean more often?

• Do you need to clean in a different way?

• Do you need to change your cleaning tools? Consider using disposable cleaning tools versus re-usable ones for the duration of the pandemic.

3. Take care of your kitchen tools

5. Training

Taking good care of your kitchen tools not only promotes surface cleaning – it can help prevent cross-contamination.

Tips for making that happen include: • Planning ahead to prep ready-toeat food separately and at different times than raw foods (especially meat, seafood and poultry).

• Keeping tools within small areas.

For example, have color-coded areas in the kitchen. Make sure that the blue area has blue tools and they don’t wander into the red area.

• Changing your cloths, mops or any form of textile frequently (or, alternatively, make use of disposables).

• Establishing a follow-up process to ensure that you don’t accidentally use a rag that’s been lying around for a week.

It doesn’t matter how good your plan and checklists are unless everyone is following them. Therefore, review training with your staff. Does everyone understand how to properly use the checklists and clean tools suitably? Does everyone understand what their cleaning responsibilities are? Follow up rigorously on enforcing the checklist compliance.

Further, reinforce hand hygiene compliance: Employees must remember to wash hands when changing tasks. Sometimes people need reminders, especially when times are busy.

2. Systematic cleaning

Where to start? Take your next steps with the Tork Clean Care Surface Cleaning Guide available at: https://tork-images.essity.com/ images-c5/446/298446/original/tol-cleancaresurface-cleaning-guide-final.pdf

African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

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feature dosing and dilution control

Clean facilities – helping to combat the spread of infection Correct hand hygiene is the most effective way of preventing the spread of germs and to protect staff and customers, but it is also important to have effective cleaning regimes in place to help reduce the spread of harmful bacteria and infections overall. Effective cleaning regimes need to ensure that all surfaces are cleaned with the correct cleaning solution and equipment. Any frequently touched surfaces including food preparation areas, washrooms and door handles need to be cleaned regularly to limit the spread of germs and prevent cross-contamination.

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sing the right cleaning chemicals is crucial in killing bacteria and reducing the spread of germs and bacteria that lead to harmful illnesses. A recent study by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that regular cleaning will help to eliminate coronavirus. It is also important to remember that as well as using the correct chemical, the right dosage is just as important.

Chemical dilution systems work by ensuring quality results and reducing waste by diluting and dispensing chemicals accurately when required.

A chemical dispensing system is a piece of equipment that doses or dilutes a given chemical at the point of use, by the end-user. Chemical dispensers achieve the balance between sustaining human resources, cost, and the environment so that businesses remain competitive and profitable.

Often desired results aren’t reached due to inaccuracy while measuring the amount of chemical or product used. Chemical dilution systems were designed to solve this problem by dosing the correct and required amount each time. This removes human error as employees are no longer required to handle chemicals and pour the required amount.

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

These solutions also protect employees and the end-user, as it cuts out direct contact with the chemical.

By having the correct amount of chemical dispensed each time, it removes the need for re-cleaning to get the desired results often not achieved by using the incorrect amount of product the first time around. Eliminating the need to re-clean areas means there is less chemical waste and you only end up using what is needed. Dilution systems enable you to buy concentrated chemicals which, in turn, circumvents the packaging, transportation, and storage costs for obtaining large quantities of ready-to-use product. This also means you will be reducing the amount of plastic waste produced by your company, making it the greener solution.

ECORANGE from Brightwell Dispensers – a global independent designer and manufacturer of innovative soap, paper and chemical dispensing systems for the hygiene and cleaning industry.

The ECORANGE includes the ECOMIX, ECOSHOT and ECOMULTI. These user-friendly, one-stop cleaning stations allow you to quickly create ready-to-use chemicals on-site regardless of water pressure or employee expertise.

The ECOMIX is a chemical dilution system connected to the mains water.

With the help of our unique patented dilution ring, it guarantees accurate dilution regardless of bottle or bucket size. A part of this range is the ECOMIX COMPACT which is easy to fit in all locations due to its small size – the ideal solution for environments tight on wall space!

The ECOSHOT is a manual dosing pump offering you an infinite number of dosing shots between 5 ml and 30 ml, which can be dispensed into a bottle, a bucket or a sink. Designed with effective chemical management in mind, the ECOSHOT can come with an optional “twist push” feature to prevent overdosing.

The ECOMULTI is a proportioner that can dilute up to four chemicals from one dispenser. Connected to the water mains, the compact design makes these one-stop cleaning stations the ideal solution for even the smallest cleaning environments.

It is available in low-flow (4 L/min) and high-flow (14 L/min) versions enabling selection of up to 13 specific dilution ratios.

For more information about the ECORANGE or Brightwell Dispensers visit: www.brightwell.co.uk

editorial Numatic International

Introducing the SERVO-Matic cleaning trolley The SM1705 SERVO-Matic cleaning trolley incorporates a generous 120-litre lidded waste capacity, 2 x 10-litre or 4 x 5-litre industry colour-coded buckets and easy-access and open shelf storage, maximising on-board storage options. The industry colour-coding promotes hygiene and prevents contamination for effective infection control.

Complete versatility is provided with the Vertical Press, SpeedClean Wide Press, MopMatic 2 and MidMop options; choose between 7 additional mop kits to equip staff perfectly for the task at hand.

Engineered from the highest quality recycled plastic using environmentally sustainable ReFlo Technology, the SERVO-Matic cleaning trolley range benefits from unique heavy-duty Structofoam construction, using co-polymer grade material, making it tough, chemicalresistant, easy to clean and built to last.

For more information visit: www.numatic.co.za

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feature dosing and dilution control

Why you should use a washroom dosing system Have you ever visited a public washroom and noticed a strange white box above the toilet or urinal? These are referred to as automated dosing systems and are taking the global washroom hygiene industry by storm.

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n automated dosing system is comprised of two components – the dosing unit and a thin pipe leading from the device to the toilet or urinal. Automatic dosing systems offer a wide range of benefits for any business with washrooms used by patrons.

Therefore, it is important to realise the importance of utilising a dosing system in your washroom according to FRESH iD, a South African hygiene and cleaning products company.

biological formulation three times a day, thereby ensuring that your toilets and urinals remain malodour-free all day long!

Improved washroom hygiene Malodour is caused by bacteria build-up in toilets, urinals and basins. The FRESH iD dosing system provides both chemical and environmentally friendly biological formulations scientifically designed to break down bacterial growth. Untreated bacteria build-ups are able to spread

By utilising automated dosing systems, you are freeing up your cleaning staff to concentrate on other hygiene matters, thereby increasing staff productivity.

Fresh smelling washrooms Eliminating bad odours in a washroom is a constant battle that can cause embarrassment for business owners.

Musty, foul odours can arise due to poor cleaning techniques. While there are means of ridding your washroom of unpleasant smells (like installing a fragrance control system) eliminating foul odours at their source with an automated dosing system is the best solution for your toilets and urinals.

The unit dispenses an odour-busting

to other areas of your establishment via human contact with the affected area. The washroom is one area where bacteria is most prevalent so prevent its spread with a drip-dosing system.

Save money on hygiene One of the biggest expenses in keeping facilities hygienically clean is the constant purchasing of cleaning materials and detergents. Now, automated dosing systems can save up to 20 percent on cleaning detergents.

This is possible due to metered dosing which delivers an exact amount of detergent every time – no less and no more. When detergents are administered by hand, there is little way of knowing just how much is being used.

Increase staff productivity By utilising automated dosing systems, you are freeing up your cleaning staff to concentrate on other hygiene matters, instead of them having to spend valuable time scrubbing toilets and urinals, thereby increasing staff productivity.

The FRESH iD dosing system features real-time programmability, refill frequency settings, on and off days, low battery indicator and programmable dosing intensity. Each dosing system can be set at different strengths and frequencies to match your hygienic requirements.

For more information about washroom dosing systems visit: www.freshid.co.za

Promote your company in The Source of Workplace Hygiene Solutions!

Reach your target market cost effectively by advertising in African Cleaning Review. The direct link to end users, building service contractors, FM service providers and key institutional sectors.

Contact us for more information regarding cost-effective advertising options: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za | www.africancleaningreview.co.za

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

editorial GCE The power of pressurised water with appropriate flow cleans up From auto body repair garages to retail showrooms, for those working in the automotive industry, cleaning is a crucial element that cannot be overlooked.

Anyone working with vehicles knows just how much dirt they can accumulate over time. Different types, all tough to remove, especially when the various components are disassembled – dirt ranging from dust, grit, mud and to traces of rubber from tyres; engine oil, lubricant and fuel; coolant, exhaust gases, powdered metal residues and rust. This is a wide range of dirt that is dangerous to operators, causing injury and pollution if not properly removed and collected.

Cleaning, however, is one of the most challenging operations for those who are normally assigned to other tasks and do not like the use of a sponge or a broom, especially if they have to reach uncomfortable areas in awkward positions.

Pressure washers, scrubber dryers, sweepers and vacuum cleaners make it possible to clean up quickly and effortlessly, where the toughest dirt accumulates during routine operations, as well as in showroom areas – whether

in- or outdoors – where welcoming customers in a clean and tidy environment is mandatory to make a good impression.

Workshop cleaning is a critical task that cannot be overlooked. Smaller workshops are not only workplaces where cars are repaired, but also places where customers are welcomed and receive advice on vehicle maintenance. A tidy, clean and well-maintained workshop leaves a good impression on the customer.

Since 1984, Goscor Cleaning Equipment (GCE) has been supplying cleaning solutions to the South African market, ensuring that workplaces are kept clean, safe and hygienic. The company aims to offer the ideal cleaning equipment for all requirements in the automotive industry, ranging from vacuum cleaners, sweepers, auto-scrubbers, and highpressure cleaners.

“The power of pressurised water with the appropriate flow cleans up everything swiftly and with little effort,” states Peter Esterhuizen, Sales Director for Goscor Cleaning Equipment. Besides a wide choice of cold water models, it is sometimes more suitable to rely on hot

water pressure washers to dissolve the toughest grease without chemicals. These machines house either an electrical- or diesel-powered boiler that heats water before releasing it under pressure.

“Portotecnica, a member of IPC, is the latest brand to join the portfolio of cleaning equipment solutions that GCE has to offer. Portotecnica has four specific lines of pressure washers ranging from hot to cold water with electric, motordriven and wall-mounted models for every cleaning need,” adds Esterhuizen.

Since there is no second chance for first impressions, professional cleaning solutions are an effective as well as indispensable work tool for workshops, tyre repair centres, electricians, body repair shops and showrooms. It is important to make housekeeping a continuous and an ongoing effort. From dealer principal to technician, all employees should understand that housekeeping is a health and safety priority.

Contact GCE’s professional automotive cleaning equipment specialists to book your demo today at: cleaning@goscor.co.za

African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

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feature high-pressure cleaning

Need to know facts about inlet supply for high-pressure pumps High-pressure cleaning is a versatile solution of employing relatively low-tech technology to produce a concentrated jet of hot or cold water to remove dirt and grime from surfaces, with or without chemicals. Keeping your highpressure system in optimum condition is especially crucial for those businesses operating high-pressure washers on a daily basis. With this in mind, Hawk Pumps, manufacturers of a range of quality high-pressure pumps, shares some technical tips on managing the crucial element of a high-pressure pump’s inlet supply.

The correct supply for the job An unsuitable inlet supply can cause even the best-designed high-pressure pump to malfunction and surprisingly serious problems can result from even the simplest of issues – or can go unnoticed by inexperienced machine operators. The most notable and common issue is pump cavitation.

Remember: there is no standard setup for a high-pressure pump system, because no two systems are the same.

However, by understanding cavitation and following a few simple rules, this issue can be prevented.

What is cavitation and how does it relate to inlet supply?

Water is supplied to the pump through the inlet valves. It is important to note that the feed should be double that of the pumps requirement.

When a high-pressure pump is starved of water, the vacuum will result in water vaporising and this will cause cavitation. Also, any leaks in the inlet plumbing will allow air to be sucked into the pump. The best way to realise that your pump is cavitating is when it starts to vibrate and emit a very loud knocking noise. As the air or vapour bubbles are compressed, they implode and the resulting shock damages the pressure seals and valves.

If the pump is run dry for a period, heat caused by friction on the plungers through lack of water, followed by bursts of cold water, could cause the ceramic pistons to shatter.

The back end of the pump can then be destroyed as a result of the cavitation. As a result, damage is then caused to the conrods, the plungers

Cavitation completely destroys back-end of pump.

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

and the crankshaft. Cavitation also causes seals to wear and the valve plugs to burst. When the crankshaft seizes it causes the motor or engine to seize, destroying more than just the pump. The best way to avoid this is to ensure that the water supply is sufficient for the pump and that no air is able to enter the water feed.

How to ensure the inlet supply is sufficient Pumps with a flow rate of less than 15 L/min A connection to a domestic tap may be used for pumps that have an output of less than 15 L/min, as long as the water supply is not shared. The water pressure must also be fairly consistent.

The water supply can be provided through one inlet.

Cavitation causes ceramic pistons to shatter.

feature high-pressure cleaning

It is important to note that the feed should be double that of the pumps requirement. When a high-pressure pump is starved of water, the vacuum will result in water vaporising and this will cause cavitation.

In one case study, a client who operated a car wash at a garage asked us to investigate why the pump was damaged due to cavitation shortly after he installed his high-pressure washer.

The investigation yielded that the tap feeding his pressure washer came from a pipe that also fed the washroom (i.e. the toilets and basins). When too many people flushed the toilets and/or used the basins simultaneously, the water supply to the high-pressure washer was compromised. This in turn caused insufficient inlet supply to the highpressure pump.

A header tank is an inexpensive yet effective way to protect your system from cavitation and a valuable tool when there is any doubt about the standard of the water supply.

Pumps with a flow rate of 15 L/min or more Hawk Pumps installs header tanks onto high-pressure systems that have a flow of 15 L/min or more as a standard feature in order to protect the system.

Header tanks must always be placed higher than the pump system to enable it to be gravity fed. It is preferred that the water supply is fed through the inlets on both sides of the pump.

This includes elbows, tees, reducers, etc. These restrictions cause an uneven flow, which can introduce turbulence and air entrainment, that may result in vibration.

Rule No. 4: Ensure no air enters the suction line Pumps with large flow outputs

The inlet piping to your pump must be sized to the pump volume. The plumbing diameter should be greater than the size of the port of the pump.

Any joint in the inlet plumbing must be tightly sealed with Teflon tape or a similar product, to avoid air leaks and cavitation. There should be no kinks or signs of damage in the inlet hose.

To recap: If air is allowed to enter the high-pressure pump or if the inlet feed water is restricted, the pump will cavitate. Most of the problems associated with positive displacement pumps are caused by water starvation or entrained air.

Hawk Pumps is a manufacturing company that primarily creates industrial high-pressure pumping and cleaning equipment. The company also manufactures spraying solutions, including industrial nozzles. One of Hawk’s biggest strengths is that they have the capacity to manufacture and custom design machines tailored to specific customer needs. The company serves a wide range of customers from virtually every industrial sector, including processing plants, factories, workshops, contract cleaners, drain and sewer cleaners, car, truck and bus washers, mines and the agricultural sector.

Rule No. 3: Avoid restrictions

For more information about Hawk Pumps visit:

Use as few restrictions as possible.

www.hawkpumps.co.za

Pump systems with an output of about 150L /min or more must have a booster pump to facilitate the supply of water to the pump as gravity is not sufficient.

When a booster pump is used, it is not necessary to feed the water through both inlet valves.

Plumbing of water to the highpressure system and effect on the inlet supply Follow these simple rules when plumbing in a water supply to your highpressure pump system:

Rule No. 1: Avoid friction loss The pump system should be as close to the water supply as possible, using minimal possible piping. This reduces friction losses. Pipe friction is also reduced by using a larger diameter pipe that limits linear velocity.

Rule No. 2: Use the correct size piping

African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

15

facilities management review

Cleaning your facility is just the first step – communication makes it impactful Facility managers everywhere can play an important role in limiting the spread of COVID-19 but, if they want building occupants to know their health and safety are taken seriously, they must also communicate their efforts.

F

or this reason, many facility managers have begun to let building occupants and visitors know about cleaning protocols via emails, SMSes, posted signage, and other methods. For example, at health clubs and gyms, facility managers aren’t just leaving out cleaning supplies like they once did. Rather, they are now including directions on how to properly use the items, as well as asking people to document when they have wiped down a surface.

These communication changes happened within a short time frame, and they are likely to continue. Why? People want information. If a facility manager neglects to stay in contact with stakeholders about cleaning routines, those stakeholders may become frustrated, worried, or even unnerved.

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

What’s more, buildings are being cleaned with a wide variety of chemicals. Even disinfectants that are ultimately safe for humans should not be used during normal working hours in places where people are congregating.

Via real-time communication, facility managers can alert building occupants when an area is safe again after an aerosol treatment, carpet disinfectant application, or hard surface cleaning.

According to milliCare floor and textile care, the following four methods can assist facility managers to communicate clearly to keep building occupants and visitors safe and informed:

1. Repurpose building service contractor (BSC) collateral Many BSCs have educational, informative collateral on-hand to share with clients. If you work with

one of these providers to keep your areas clean, you can increase your transparency with occupants by sharing such materials with them.

For instance, milliCare has an indoor air quality improvement program, the Breathe Easy Campaign, that includes collateral which is available to facility managers, including signage, notification cards, and even email templates. Facility managers can easily use this existing material to show building occupants how they are prioritising indoor air quality in the space.

2. Distribute weekly email blasts Where emails about daily updates might take a bit too much work (and be more annoying than informative for building occupants), weekly emails are a great, low-effort way to inform everyone of recent or upcoming

facilities management review happenings. For example, these emails can include details on which areas are being cleaned that week and any notifications of after-hours efforts that might require spaces to be vacant.

3. Set up text chains Texting is an excellent option for more time-sensitive updates and reminders.

For example, you could notify occupants in the weekly email that the office will need to be vacant at a certain time for disinfecting the following week.

Then, a few hours before occupants need to vacate, you can quickly send out a text to remind anyone who may have forgotten. With this strategy, occupants can stay well prepared for whatever you have scheduled.

Including information in your alerts about the products used to clean and disinfect can also be a great way to alleviate any fears and make employees and building occupants feel safer. Assure them that you are only using safe, low-toxicity, EPA-approved chemicals.

4. Arrange monthly Zoom or telephone calls Some facility managers have introduced Zoom or phone conference calls every few weeks. These calls are open to building occupants and include reports of new COVID-19 cases, recovered cases, and related action items.

Participants have the opportunity to ask questions and share concerns. This can be an excellent opportunity to share

what you are doing to keep your building occupants and visitors safe and field any questions about cleaning protocols.

Facility managers can no longer perform their services in the background. Instead, they need to become master communicators to help building occupants feel safer and more comfortable. Fortunately, the right tools and techniques can help make better communication a breeze.

African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

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laundry review

Preventing linen loss in healthcare and hospitality industries

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inen loss is a common occurrence in the healthcare and hospitality industries. Linens refer to sheets, bedding, towels, and cleaning cloths, as well as hospitality and medical uniforms.

In the United States, linen losses account for more than $840 million dollars in the healthcare industry alone.

Exact figures for the hospitality industry are harder to determine, since there are large hotel chains, independent franchises, cruise ships, and other such operations under the hospitality umbrella, but it is most likely just as much, if not more than the healthcare industry. Prudential Overall Supply which specialises in uniform supply, rental and laundering offers a closer look at how to combat the scourge of linen loss in the healthcare and hospitality sectors.

What can you do to help reduce and prevent linen loss in your healthcare or hospitality operation?

Start by taking a physical inventory of all linens that you have on hand. The only way to track losses is to know exactly how many linens you have onsite. You would be surprised by the number of operations which simply rely upon their uniform service to track this information.

If you already have a supply of linens on hand before contracting with the service to sell, rent, or lease your linens, you truly have no idea of an exact number of linens on hand. The service only goes by the information they have, in regards to the number of items they provide you. If you also utilise laundry service through your uniform and linen supplier, the volume varies from one week to the next.

The service only tracks the number of items the laundry service receives and the number returned to your operation.

Once you have a physical inventory of all of your linens, the next step is to educate your employees. A good portion of linen loss is due to employees tossing soiled linens into the trash or red hazard disposal bags, simply because of a lack of proper training. Most types of soiled linens are able to be disinfected and sterilised using the right laundering methods, so they can be re-used again. Get in the habit of performing routine garbage checks to ensure linens are not accidentally being thrown out.

Another big source of linen loss is people. From patients and resort guests, to your employees, linens

are taken home. Again, the key to stopping patients and guests from pilfering linens is by better educating your employees. For instance, at a hotel, your employees should inform guests that the linens in their room have been inventoried and that any missing linens, after they depart, will be charged to their credit card on file.

In medical facilities, have nurses and other support staff inform patients there is a charge if they take home blankets, sheets, pillows, scrubs, or other linens.

There are two specific areas you need to address for employee linen losses: 1. Uniform loss To reduce uniform losses, keep a record of when the employee received their uniforms and how many uniforms were supplied.

2. Linen inventories It can be tempting to take home sheets, towels, cleaning cloths, and other linens. A viable solution is to inspect employees’ bags as they exit the facility to verify the contents thereof.

Advertise in the primary African trade magazine for the commercial cleaning and hygiene sectors.

Reach your target market cost-effectively with a direct link to end-users, building service contractors, facility management and key institutional segments.

For more information regarding advertising / editorial / digital packages, email: nande@cleantex.co.za

www.africancleaningreview.co.za

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

laundry review

Hygienically clean, corona-free even in airliners

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ne of the questions raised during the pandemic and now more so since airlines are resuming flights relates to the possibility that blankets used in aircrafts can be a source of contamination and COVID-19 infection.

During the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, the global association of the laundry industry, CINET, prepared protocols to lower the risk of contamination and to ensure the delivery of coronavirus-free textiles and create safe working conditions for employees of textile cleaning companies and industrial laundries.

The challenge for airline laundries is that most aircraft blankets are made of Modacryl or Microfibre polyester and these delicate fibres require mild laundry conditions – including low temperature washing processes. The CINET protocols describe the essential parameters that influence hygienic processing.

It is imperative to realise that all airline linen should be regarded as potentially contaminated linen and should be handled and processed accordingly. In other words, hygienically safe linen can only be secured when the handling (sorting) and laundry process follow the exact instructions as laid down in the CINET protocols.

For more information visit: www.cinet-online.com

African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

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people and events Advocating for more women in science As part of this year’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Kimberly-Clark Corporation commended Ntokozo Sithole, GM at the company’s Enstra manufacturing facility in South Africa.

Should you ask Sithole, a female engineer, as to what drives her to succeed daily, she will respond without hesitation, “having more women in manufacturing and science, especially in leadership roles.”

According to Sithole, science has always been part of her life. She studied science and engineering in the 1990s and has been in the industry for 28 years. She remembers the environment for a woman in science back then as less than welcoming.

“I wasn’t allowed in certain areas of a plant,” she explained. “I was given

soft projects and positions, and did not have female ablutions facilities or uniforms that fit well. Although a lot has changed over the years, there are still subtle ways that women can feel undermined, side-lined, ignored and unfairly compared to men who had better exposure and support.” This has resulted in the forging of her personal mission to champion female scientists and to make sure they don’t have the same negative experience.

“I’m grateful to work at a place like Kimberly-Clark where my voice is valued, and where I have an opportunity every day to leverage my unique strengths and make essential products that improve people’s lives,” said Sithole.

“Science is the heart of what we do at Kimberly-Clark. All around the world,

Celebrating 15 years of improving the environment Integrated cleaning specialist African Corporate Cleaning celebrated their 15-year anniversary during February. Since its beginnings as an automotive cleaning contractor to three

SAVE THE DATE

www.cleantex.co.za

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

Ntokozo Sithole women like Ntokozo are smashing stereotypes as leaders in science, and we applaud you on this year’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science,” stated Kimberly-Clark.

motor vehicle dealerships, African Corporate Cleaning has grown to a base of more than 100 diverse clients with more than 200 sites and now employs over 600 trained cleaning staff. The company provides a mature offering, encompassing professional services in corporate cleaning, food safety, logistics and distribution centres, hygiene, pest control as well as window and solar panel cleaning.

The management team remains committed to transformation and as a level 2 broad-based black economic empowerment company with 51 percent black and 30 percent black women shareholding, it offers clients 125 percent procurement recognition.

“I want to recognise and thank our amazing clients and staff for helping us achieve this milestone. It has been a fruitful journey characterised by hard work, commitment to excellence and mutual respect. We are enthusiastic and optimistic about deepening our client relationships and making further inroads in future,” commented Managing Director, Gavin Green.

people and events New appointments at Averda Leading end-to-end waste management company Averda announced key appointments that reflect the company’s strategic focus on fostering the circular economy in the emerging world as well as its commitment to staff diversity at senior level:

Mariam Ansari has been appointed a Director of Plastics Recycling where she will lead Averda’s expansion in the plastics recycling sector. Ansari holds a Master’s degree from Warwick Business School, UK.

Mariam Ansari

Brindha Roberts

Brindha Roberts has been appointed as Group Director of Sustainability. Roberts holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and her career has seen her hone her skills at Mondi Packaging, Sappi and Kimberly-Clark before bringing her expertise to Averda.

High-pressure pump manufacturer collaborates with young entrepreneur Hawk Pumps, a manufacturing company that primarily produces industrial high-pressure pumps and cleaning equipment announced that it has partnered with Happy Clean – Mobile Car Wash in furthering the company’s reach and offering of car washing, deep cleaning and roof/wall/pavement cleaning services. Happy Clean – Mobile Car Wash is a Durbanbased car wash headed by entrepreneur Sibongiseni Khoza.

It currently has eight employees and operates as a stationary car wash as well as a mobile car wash, where the team moves around to different establishments to wash cars. Khoza applied for financing from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) to expand his service offering. He then received a voucher from the NYDA which he wanted to use to get a multipurpose mini cleaning trailer that would assist his car wash offering. He then started researching companies that manufacture these trailers and Hawk Pumps stood out to him. He approached Hawk them for a mini trailer and Melanie Mokawem, Director at Hawk Pumps, noticed the passion and drive in Khoza and realised the potential to collaborate. This resulted in Khoza acquiring a professional trailer with business, website development and marketing assistance.

“This was a dream come true for me as I was now able to take my business to the next level. Hawk helped bring my vision to reality and also to market my business which is exactly what any entrepreneur needs to kickstart his business,” said Khoza.

Happy Clean – Mobile Car Wash now offers deep cleaning services which include cleaning roofs, walls, and pavements.

When COVID-19 hit, the stationary car wash site was forced to close due to restrictions. However, the upside was that Happy Clean – Mobile Car Wash had more mobile requests from people wanting their cars washed at home or at their office premises. Clients also asked for deep cleaning services in their offices which helped extend the business offering further. The business now also manufactures its own cleaning products.

Do you have any company news, new appointments or celebrations to share in the People and Events section of African Cleaning Review? Then get in touch with us at: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za

African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

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people and events Industry loss – Brian Tanner Former National Contract Cleaners Association (NCCA) National Secretariat and past Chairperson of the Cleaning Chamber at the Services SETA, Brian Tanner passed away during March, only four days following the death of his wife Pat. Brian occupied the National Secretariat position for 17 years and served under several national Chairmen.

His professional status included: Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Buildings (FCIOB) and Fellow of the Architecture and Surveyors Institute (FASI).

“Brian was a perfectionist which was reflected in the way he managed the NCCA office and meetings mostly held at Helvetia House in Germiston.

He exuded a deep-rooted enthusiasm

for the cleaning industry he cherished, indeed one of his main aims was to cast the industry in a light that reflected professionalism, integrity and visionary characteristics.

I recalled Brian joining an official South African delegation to the Interclean Amsterdam show where, despite his advanced age at the time, he traversed the more than ten halls looking for staff development innovations which could be implemented locally to raise industry standards.

Brian’s professionalism in running the NCCA office poised the association to prevail and grow in membership numbers at times when other industry bodies floundered,” said African Cleaning

Brian Tanner Review Editor, Johann van Vuuren.

African Cleaning Review invited industry members who interacted closely with Brian Tanner during his tenure to extend a tribute:

“When I first met Brian in the 1980s I was immediately struck by his ‘old world’ respectful and gentle manner.

In addition to passionately serving the interests of NCCA members, Brian was at the forefront in recognising that the cleaners employed in the industry were its backbone. He was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the Cleaning Industry Training Board (CITB) in the late 1990s. Brian loved meetings, he was a stickler for ‘dotting all the i’s and crossing all the t’s.’ If an executive meeting was scheduled for two hours, Brian made absolutely sure that he used up the full 120 minutes. No chance of ducking off early while Captain Tanner was at the helm! I will always treasure fond memories of a ‘salt of the earth’ husband and wife team.”

Arthur Bath, NCCA Gauteng Treasurer “Brian executed his duties with so much passion, diligence and integrity. He could relate to people from all walks of life, and in his very empathetic manner assisted many to be compliant members of the NCCA. He could also tease and loved a good joke, but never out of malice. I remember one audacious proposal from him at a NEC meeting, he suggested that, as National Chairman, I should wear an ornamental chain, resembling a mayoral chain, as a sign of honour and dignity. I burst out laughing and swiftly declined, much to the amusement of the rest of the NEC. One will never be able to measure how much he contributed to the South African cleaning industry, however, we know that he became a legend to all in the industry. We will remember him for so much more.”

Clive Damonze, NCCA Vice President “I only have good memories of Brian, but there is one great thing he did for our industry that stands out. When the Government’s skills development initiative was only in draft, Brian had already seen its value for raising standards and professionalising the cleaning industry. He drove the formation of the Training Board and ensured the cleaning industry became a proactive chamber within the Services SETA. In addition, his forward thinking as the de facto director of the National Contract Cleaners Association laid some solid foundations that have helped it to become the success it is today.”

Richard Gordon-Brown, former Cleaning Chamber Manager, Services SETA “I first got to know Mr Tanner (as I then knew him), when I was 9 years old and Brian was our football coach on Saturday afternoons. Fifty years later, I am privileged to have the warmest possible memories of an intelligent, patient, highly capable and dedicated person who always made a massive contribution in a solid and dignified manner. In the 1960s I admired Brian for his football skills and in later years I admired him for the major role he played in developing the NCCA into the vibrant, relevant and forward-looking Association it is today.”

Paul Roux, former NCCA National Vice-Chairman

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

educational

Cleaning industry changes brought about by COVID-19 If there’s one thing we have learned in the last several months, it’s that the approach to cleaning has changed for the long term, if not forever. Going shopping, eating at a restaurant, or attending an event will have everyone judging whether a space is clean and safe from germs that may impact our health.

A

nd, while these factors are impacting all of us personally on a daily basis, businesses are also responding and changing their cleaning protocols to help ensure their visitors are safe and comfortable.

The information on proper protocols and regulations changes on a regular basis, which means we don’t have all of the answers now, and may not in the near future. The important thing is that businesses remain flexible and adapt to ensure safety.

Hereunder follows 3 ways in which cleaning changed in light of COVID-19 according to US cleaning equipment manufacturer Tennant:

1. More visible cleaning: Cleaning has always been important, but it may have gone unnoticed in the past. However, as cleanliness has moved to the forefront of everyone’s minds, seeing is believing. Consumers now expect, and have become accustomed to, seeing team members wiping down carts, cleaning registers between customers and regularly disinfecting high-touch surfaces to help them feel safe while completing necessary errands. Additionally, even floor cleaning has become more visible, as businesses clean more often.

2. Increased time and money spent on cleaning: The worldwide association for the cleaning industry, the ISSA estimates that as businesses start to reopen, labour costs will increase 50 percent and equipment, tools and supplies will increase by between 100-200 percent. Many stores and restaurants have shortened their

cleaning machine usage. As businesses plan for the new realities of their cleaning programs, technologies that help their teams clean more efficiently and more safely will be an important consideration. We are evaluating all possible types of methods and equipment that improve the sanitisation and disinfection effectiveness of our

The information on proper protocols and regulations changes on a regular basis, which means we don’t have all of the answers now, and may not in the near future.

The important thing is that businesses remain flexible and adapt to ensure safety.

hours to allow for additional cleaning protocols, which may mean more cleaning staff, cleaning equipment, safety equipment, or more cleaning solutions.

Plus, with a more critical eye on public spaces, allowing the proper dwell time for disinfecting also increases time spent on thorough cleaning.

3. New cleaning innovations: In just a few months, we’ve seen new cleaning technologies emerge across the globe and have seen a spike in robotic

machines either through complementary or integrated functionality.

Lastly, the changes we have noticed in cleaning would not be possible without the cleaning teams and employees who are working hard to ensure public spaces are clean, safe and healthy. Thank you to cleaning teams everywhere for being on the frontlines in keeping all types of spaces and surfaces clean.

For more information visit: www.tennantco.com

African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

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new products Does your sanitiser guarantee protection against SARS-CoV-2

In what can be called a groundbreaking result, not only for Biodx but also South Africa in the ongoing fight against the Coronavirus, Biodx has received the official confirmation from TNO (The Netherlands Organisation for applied scientific research) that their active ingredient b bioactive™, has a 99.987% reduction efficacy against the SARS-CoV-2 virus for surface disinfection and hand sanitisers.

Why test for efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) when no one else seems to bother? According to Burt Rodrigues, CEO of Biodx, “In science one is allowed to speculate on the activity of a product on a given pathogen based on its recorded activity against another pathogen; however, ultimately one is obliged to have direct scientific proof of this claimed activity.”

“Most claims that are being made are based on work done on other viruses,” explains leading Virologist Dr Alex Alexandre from the CSIR,

“however it is necessary that if a product claims to be active against SARS-CoV-2 it must be tested specifically against this virus. Because it works on one virus it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will work against other viruses no matter how related they may be.”

Founded in 1932, the TNO is rated as one of the top facilities in the world employing some of the finest minds in science today. “We chose TNO for this testing work in 2014 when looking for a European applied science research partner. They are also ranked in the top 20 scientific institutions in the world and their analytical reports are accepted worldwide,” explains Rodrigues.

According to experts this is now the only South African manufactured product offering a guarantee of safe, fully effective usage against this virus. When people buy products that advertise efficacy against SARS-CoV-2, they trust the words on the label, but rarely look further to see who has certified the product. Most importantly, what it actually contains is often a questionable substance, banned due to high human toxicity. And herein lies the problem. Government legislation is in place here, perhaps without the same capacity as the EU, but do formulators/ manufacturers comply, guaranteeing a kill rate against SARS-CoV-2 meeting

the internal requirements of their claims? This, now more than ever, is vital if we want to really contain this pandemic.

Benefitting from this guarantee of performance providing residual efficacy will be, responsible formulators/ producers of quality commercial, industrial and consumer cleaning products, sanitisers and disinfectants and most importantly, end users (cleaning companies, medical, commercial, industrial, consumers etc.). “If responsible companies want to stay within their fiduciary duties which hold companies liable to eliminate this risk then b bioactive™ is the product of choice,” adds Rodrigues.

Recently, ATMs came under the spotlight when Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma introduced new regulations calling for the provision of sanitisers at every ATM, as they could be a source of mass infections. “If banks conform to this demand it should be through using wet wipes that contain b bioactive™ to guarantee usage safety,” urges Rodrigues.

For more information on the test results and criteria/protocol for the EU NEN-EN 14476:2013 +A2:2019 method please contact Dr Mark Kelly, Chief Scientist at info@biodx.co

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AfricanACR Cleaning Review March/April 2021

URL: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5GFRJGW

new products New flexible hygienic wall bracket solution The world’s leading supplier of hygienic cleaning tools and systems for the food and beverage industry and other hygiene-sensitive environments Vikan, recently launched a new cleaning-tool storage solution – the Hi-Flex Wall Bracket System.

This system, which consists of four separate products, is intended for use in food processing plants, industrial kitchens, supermarkets, restaurants, canteens and other facilities where food and beverages are produced, processed, served or sold.

Conceived as a wall bracket plus separately available grip and hook modules, the durably constructed system is easy to install and provides flexible storage of up to five tools.

Hygienic design and availability in 12 colours help to ensure hygienic storage wherever cleaning tools and other utensils are used in a facility.

“Proper cleaning tool and utensil storage assist staff to locate equipment more quickly and extends the service life of these valuable items,” said Jette Fruergaard, Vikan’s hygiene product manager. “This new system helps our customers achieve that, while also ensuring hygiene by reducing the risk of cross-contamination and demonstrating appropriate equipment care and control to auditors.”

The four products in the system are: • The Hygienic Hi-Flex Wall Bracket System (1011x), which stores up to five products via attachable hooks and grip bands • The Single Hook module (1012) for storing individual products with hanging holes • The Grip Band module (1013), which stores almost any product with a handle

• The Double Hook module (1014x) for storing two products with hanging holes While the Hi-flex Wall Bracket System is intended for storing several products in the same place, the single and double modules meet the need to store any product even in very small spaces.

For more information about the full range of tool storage options visit: www.vikan.com

African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2021

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Organisers: e-squared For more information email: nande@cleantex.co.za or visit: www.cleantex.co.za