African Cleaning Review MayJune 2018 issue

PROMOTING PROFESSIONAL HYGIENE AND CLEANING

May/June 2018 | R55.00 (incl. VAT)

Smart technology. Spotless floors.

Join the cleaning revolution today Intelligent Cleaning Equipment

www.ice4sa.co.za Tel: 0861 ICE4SA 0861 423 472

Joint global platform for cleaning industry bodies Living with AI technology Caring for diverse flooring options Save lives: Improve handhygiene compliance

contents MAY/JUNE 2018 VOL 19 NO. 3 Smart technology. Spotless floors.

ICE – Intelligent Cleaning Equipment is now available locally. ICE offers smart technology and introduces the latest in auto-scrubbers, commercial vacuum cleaners, floor burnishers, sweepers, carpet vacuum extractors and rideon auto-scrubbers to the South African market.

Founded in 2011 by Simon Chen, the ICE group of companies currently sell professional cleaning equipment in 20 countries and regions around the world. Towards the end of 2017 ICE deployed 6 280 rental cleaning machines in the Chinese market and currently employs 241 people worldwide. Read more about ICE on page 13.

Opinion

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Industry News

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How to go from grilling to engaging the customer

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Innovation Award shortlist announced for Amsterdam show Chemical firm joins Makro in water-relief drive Rentokil Initial awarded The Queen’s Award City of Joburg insource 1 400 former contract workers Tennant Company to introduce robotic floorcare machines Tork gets ready for the next 50 Creating a joint global platform for the cleaning industry ISSA announce keynote speaker for ISSA Summit Increased awareness around sepsis can save lives – Tork Introducing Intelligent Cleaning Equipment – ICE The Healthy Workplace – Kimberly-Clark Professional*

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Educational

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Laundry Review

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Living with artificial intelligence (AI) UV-Disinfection robot to increase patient safety Bringing transparency to the laundry process PTC best practices workshop in Algeria

Features

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Floorcare solutions • Caring for diverse flooring options • Concrete floorcare 101

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Hand-hygiene • Save lives: Clean your hands • Using smartphones in the washroom risks poor health • Asset tracking can set new standards of handhygiene in healthcare facilities

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FM Review

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People and Events

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New Products

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SMEs graduate from enterprise-development programme Recycled chandeliers find new home New GCE showroom offers enhanced multi-brand demo facility Kärcher presents autonomous cleaning in Amsterdam Higher cleaning performance with new scrubhead sizes

@AfricanCleanRev

AfricanCleaningReview

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 Administration 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.

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Planned features for 2018

Advertorial

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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 Fax: +27 (0) 86 672 4794 PO Box 1976, Halfway House, 1685, South Africa Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Website: www.africancleaningreview.co.za

Jul/Aug issue: Editorial deadline 22 June • Hygiene in healthcare facilities • Hand dryers Sept/Oct issue: Editorial deadline 24 August • Sustainable cleaning • Cleaning equipment overview Nov/Dec issue: Editorial deadline 19 October • Dispensing systems • Fragrance systems and aircare

Secure your seat at the first-ever ISSA African Industry Summit on 6 September 2018 See pages 8-9 and 22 for information

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African Cleaning Review May/June 2018

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from the editor

opinion

How to go from grilling to engaging the customer Consultative selling is one of the most powerful selling techniques

Importance of handhygiene revisited In this, the May/June issue of African Cleaning Review, we focus in one of our features on the very important and topical issue of hand-hygiene, especially because World Hand-Hygiene Day is celebrated each year during May. Special emphasis is given to hand-hygiene compliance and especially so within washrooms and healthcare facilities. The World Health Organization’s Clean Your Hands campaign brings people together globally during this month in support of hand-hygiene improvement. Therefore it is a cause well worth supporting in order to help raise South African awareness of the importance of hand-hygiene in our daily lives.

The other feature offers advice on how to care for two diverse flooring options including carpeting and concrete floor surfaces. The latter highlights many different concrete surface finishes and how to effectively maintain the appearance in heavy-foot-traffic applications.

Apart from the features we have prepared a very interesting issue with a look at the latest industry news, living with artificial intelligence, UV disinfection in hospitals and a very important announcement by the world’s two leading cleaning-industry associations. Don’t miss the inspiring article about entrepreneurial success where 21 SMEs graduated from an enterprise-development programme and note how many are in the business of facility cleaning and hygiene. These companies exceeded all expectations and we celebrate their splendid performance.

I trust you will enjoy reading this carefully prepared issue. In our next issue we will give you feedback on our visit to the Interclean Amsterdam show in May.

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cleaning-industry distributors and account representatives have available to market their products and services.

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ccording to Michael Wilson, Vice President of Marketing for AFFLINK, developer of the ELEVATE® system, consultative selling can be defined as: An exchange of information in which the salesperson uncovers an understanding of a facility’s needs and helps the customer select products and services that will address those needs.

However, Wilson says many customers don’t know exactly what their needs and challenges are, which can make the process difficult.

“This means the salesperson must ask questions. But there’s a right way and a wrong way to do this”, states Wilson.

According to Wilson, to ensure the consultative process works, distributors should avoid the following pitfalls:

Instead, keep asking questions that show your interest in the client’s needs and then slowly introduce your products and services, discussing how they can help address those needs.

Avoid turning the sales process into Dragnet.

The now-famous television series Dragnet, starred two cops who rattled off questions in their search for ’just the facts.’ While this may have worked on TV, it rarely works with clients. Rather guide the prospect with questions based on the conversation. Show genuine interest, empathy, and your desire to understand their issues.

Studies have shown that

Avoid ‘leading’ questions.

A ’leading’ question is a question that contains its own answer. Many distributors are taught this technique because it helps them focus the customer on their product offerings.

However, the customer can feel manipulated, start putting up defences, and become skeptical.

much more positive energy,

Avoid ’convincing‘ actions.

Studies have shown that when salespeople try to convince a client to purchase a product, it creates negative ’vibes‘. Instead of convincing, concerned behaviour creates much more positive energy, helps stimulate conversations, and builds mutual trust – one of the cornerstones of consultative selling. “[The] consultative selling approach is powerful, results in sales, and can build long-term relationships,” adds Wilson.

“Doing it right brings it to life.”

when salespeople try to convince a client to purchase a product, it creates negative ’vibes‘. Instead of convincing, concerned behaviour creates

helps stimulate conversations, and builds mutual trust – one of the cornerstones of consultative selling.

opinion About AFFLINK: Connecting more than 200 manufacturers of facility maintenance, packaging, safety, office and industrial supply solutions with nearly 300 independent distribution experts, AFFLINK – as its name suggests – is the critical link offering clients innovative products, market expertise and improved profitability, all of which is fueled by leading-edge information technology.

For more information visit: www.afflink.com

About ELEVATE®: ELEVATE® is a free consulting-software application designed to help manage supply-chain costs for today’s leading businesses. Perfect for executive level professionals looking to optimise their supply chain in the commercial real estate, healthcare, industrial and hospitality markets.

For more information visit: www.elevateprocess.com

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industry news Innovation Award shortlist announced for Amsterdam show

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he jury of the 12th edition of Interclean Amsterdam Innovation Award has announced its shortlist of nominees – selecting twelve entries from across four categories.

According to the show’s organisers, this year’s awards event has seen the number of categories grow from three to four – adapting to the ever-changing nature of innovation in the professional cleaning and hygiene industry. This means that there are three shortlisted nominees in each category including

Management & Mobility Solutions/ECleaning, Equipment, Machines, and Related Products/Services.

The overall winner of the Amsterdam Innovation Award – and the four category winners – will be announced at a special ceremony during the show.

Visitors to the show are able to vote for their favourite innovation.

Shortlisted nominees by category: • In the Management & Mobility Solutions/E-Cleaning category, shortlisted entries include ADLATUS Robotics with its ADLATUS Service Station for Cleaning Robots, Diversey for IntelliLinenTM, and INPACS for its Orbita Dashboard.

• The Equipment category features Diversey for its MoonBeam™3 UVC

Disinfection System, SYR for the Powr-Mop Lite, and Vermop Salmon for its Vermop System ONe. • Shortlisted for the Machines category are Kärcher for its KIRA B 50, Unger Germany for the HydroPower RO, and Wetrok for its Wetrok Automatic Marvin.

• In the Related Products/Services category, the featured nominees are Dityspray for Dityspray, Tork for its Tork PaperCircle, and Werner & Mertz Professional for the greenEffective Performance CalculatorTM. Many of these innovations are a world first in their field and represent a significant leap forward for technology in the professional cleaning and hygiene industry. Interclean Amsterdam is set to take place from 15-18 May 2018.

Chemical firm joins retailer Makro in water-relief drive

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ith South Africa’s water crisis severely impacting Western Cape communities, it’s up to everybody to assist where possible.

Chemical firm Chemico therefore encourages people to assist the cause by simply purchasing a bottle of Chemico, or any one of the participating products, in countrywide retailer Makro’s water-relief drive, in order to assist in ensuring water availability for everyone. Water donations will be distributed to old-age homes, creches and clinics, as well as to people in need and animals at SPCAs in the Western Cape province.

“We saw Makro’s water-relief drive as a great opportunity to help those with little, or no access, to water. We encourage all South Africans to get on board and support this great initiative.

By simply purchasing and supporting local products, at a proudly South African store, everyone can do their bit in this time of crisis,” says Shakil Ahmad, Chemico brand manager.

Addressing the current water crisis in the region is Makro’s immediate priority, but to avoid further shortages across South Africa it is imperative to look to good planning, good governance and effective investment in sustainable

solutions. Most importantly, it will take responsible usage from everyone to reduce consumption and avoid wastage every time the tap is turned on.

For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/ChemicoProducts

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African Cleaning Review May/June 2018

industry news Rentokil Initial awarded The Queen’s Award

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entokil Initial plc has been awarded The Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation for its RADAR and PestConnect system, in recognition of its leadership position in product and digital innovation for commercial pest control.

The Queen’s Award celebrates enterprise and business excellence and is the UK’s highest accolade for business success. A five-year Grant of Appointment is awarded to recipient companies.

The Rentokil RADAR (Rodent Activated, Detection And Riddance) device is a revolutionary rodent trap for use in professional pest-control services (customers include food production, restaurants, offices and other industries) that features a unique combination of infra-red technology and fast-acting CO2 instead of traditional poisons.

The company’s innovative ‘Internet of Things’ PestConnect system adds: • Smartphone messaging – once a connected RADAR unit has been activated, a message is received by the local Rentokil technician via Rentokil’s ServiceTrak smartphone App indicating rodent activity in the particular unit, meaning a quicker

and more accurate response; • 365/24/7 monitoring & reporting – providing extra assurance for customers with reporting via the myRentokil customer portal; • Google cloud storage – to date over 30 million messages have been sent from the thousands of connected RADAR units in premises across the globe; and • Data analysis and trend mapping – through the Rentokil online command centre (which maps and monitors rodent activity from the customer floorplan up to country level), the company’s experts can deliver big data insights to enhance the company’s expertise and ultimately deliver a better service.

“Innovation is a core part of Rentokil Initial’s DNA and underlines our credentials as the global leader in commercial pest control. We lead the industry in digital pest control and work with best-in-class partners, such as Google, to set increasingly high standards of service for our customers.

We are delighted to have again been honoured with a Queen’s Award, which is recognition for the hard work and commitment of our 36 000 colleagues across the world,” says Andy Ransom, CEO of Rentokil Initial plc.

Rentokil Initial, one of the largest businessservices companies in the world, operates in over 70 countries. For more information visit: www.rentokil-initial.com

City of Joburg insources 1 400 former contract workers

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ohannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba announced in April that the City will insource 1 400 workers who were formerly employed under the municipality’s Jozi@Work programme.

“Contract workers to be insourced form part of a group who lodged a long-standing employment dispute with Pikitup,” Mashaba said. “While we are only able to accommodate 1 400 of the total 3 000 former employees, consisting of both Jozi@Work and 2 010 contract workers, due to budget constraints from Pikitup, it must be noted that the issue is not with the number of people employed. Rather,

our main priority is ensuring that fair remuneration and dignity is provided to these contract workers.”

This follows a successful meeting the City held with the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU), Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (IMATU), as well as the City’s waste-management entity, Pikitup, where it was decided that some former Jozi@Work employees would be employed directly by the City.

Mashaba said that these workers would be employed on a permanent basis and would see their earnings increase from R2 200 to R6 000 per month. Mashaba said that this was a

short-term intervention that is meant to give people dignity and value in working for the City.

Jozi@Work employees have often disrupted Pikitup operations in the past by trashing the rubbish bins in the City centre and intimidating Pikitup employees, while demanding that the City reinstates their programme.

According to Mashaba, Pikitup will now apply for an exemption from the National Exemption Committee of the National Bargaining Council in order to allow for the insourcing of these former contract workers and the verification of those who are to be insourced.

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industry news Tennant Company to introduce robotic floorcare machines

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ennant Company, a world leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing cleaning products and solutions for maintaining surfaces in industrial, commercial and outdoor environments, announced in April that it will launch its first autonomous floorcare machine capable of operating in complex, real-world environments without direct operator control. The first Tennant autonomous solution is expected to be available in North America in 2018 on the T7 floor scrubber with further expansion into global markets and additional models to follow.

Tennant Company recently formed a relationship with Brain Corporation, an artificial intelligence (AI) company specialising in technology for autonomous robots.

The autonomous Tennant T7 will seamlessly integrate Brain’s proprietary AI robotic technology software platform, BrainOS®, to deliver a cleaning solution designed to maximise productivity,

increase efficiency and optimise safety.

Brain is an industry-leading robotics software company specialising in the development of intelligent, autonomous systems that automate commercial equipment.

“With advances in robotics technology and our customers’ desire to operate their cleaning programmes more productively, we are thrilled to combine the Tennant best-in-class cleaning equipment with the bestin-class autonomous navigation operating system from Brain,” said Chris Killingstad, Tennant Company President and CEO. “Our customers are continually looking for enhanced productivity, reliability, exceptional service and performance, and a reduction in the cost of ownership.

Tennant is uniquely positioned to be a leader in the robotics cleaning market by offering a comprehensive solution that provides a single point of contact for quality products, extensive field

service and support, robust customer training and process consultation,” Killingstad added.

Like many other industries, the professional cleaning industry is undergoing a transition as a result of disruptive technologies that are driving greater automation. Robotics and artificial intelligence technologies have made significant inroads across multiple business sectors. Specifically, robotics offers smart, safe and sustainable solutions to repetitive tasks while allowing organisations and its employees to focus on higher-valueadded activities.

aim to help customers improve their businesses.

Now Tork looks to the future, aspiring to shape the professional hygiene market. With cutting-edge solutions like data-driven cleaning, the

first major innovation in the handdrying market in 20 years, and the world’s first paper-towel-recycling service, Tork aims to assist customers to get ready to face the challenges of the future.

Get ready for the next 50!

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his year marks a special year for Essity’s professional hygiene brand Tork as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Tork has a proud history of innovations. From the very beginning, with the launch of their disposable wipes to data-driven cleaning software, the company has been passionate about helping customers improve their businesses. In close partnerships with customers, Tork has grown into a global leader in professional hygiene.

It all started in 1968 with the launch of the ‘All-Tork’ wipe – the first disposable wipe designed to replace rags. It was the beginning of a journey of innovations that would set new standards in the professional hygiene market again and again.

Since the beginning, the Tork brand has grown its assortment and business at a fast pace. Through recent acquisitions like Lotus Professional and Wausau Paper, the company has continued to strengthen its product offering. It attributes its success to its close partnership with customers and to the dedicated people at Tork who

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African Cleaning Review May/June 2018

advertorial Tork

Increased awareness around sepsis can save lives

Sometimes wrongly referred to as blood poisoning, sepsis is the life-threatening response of a patient’s own body to a pre-existing infection and has been found to be a contributing factor to 1/3 of all hospital deaths. However, there are ways to prevent sepsis, and raising awareness about the condition is the first step towards saving lives.

Each year sepsis causes on average six million deaths worldwide. It is the primary cause of death from infection and is more common than heart attacks. This is why the Private Organizations for Patient Safety and the World Health Organization (WHO) have centred the theme for this year’s May 5th World Hand-Hygiene Day (WHHD) on the ways of preventing sepsis through appropriate hand-hygiene. This scheme is part of a bigger debate that goes beyond hand-hygiene and includes different interventions to prevent sepsis that can be split into the following:

Preventive care

As sepsis is the body’s response to an infection, making sure that a patient does not initially develop that

infection is the first step to prevention. Infection prevention encompasses surveillance and early detection such as identifying high-risk patients and being proactive. Through careful preventive care, healthcare professionals can boost their patient’s general health and the body’s ability to fight.

Simple actions include appropriate management of skin conditions, especially in high-risk patients to reduce transmission of infections or making sure that patients are up to date with their vaccinations.

professionals can make a difference and perform hygiene activities at appropriate times.

Monitoring and managing

Wound care

If, despite best care, a patient still develops an infection, time is of the essence. In order to prevent and avoid sepsis, the infection needs to be closely monitored and managed. Being familiar with and applying local antimicrobial stewardship guidelines is a crucial step to ensure that the patient’s condition does not evolve into a critical state.

Hand-hygiene

As 1 in 10 patients worldwide will acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection (HAI) that can develop into sepsis, appropriate hand-hygiene plays a crucial part in the prevention of microbial cross-transmission from healthcare professionals to patients. It has been observed that handhygiene alone can reduce up to 40 percent of healthcare-related infections, however, 61 percent of healthcare workers are still not adhering to best hand-hygiene practices. By applying the WHO’s ‘5 moments of hand-hygiene’ tool, healthcare

“With up to two in every five cases of HAIs caused by cross-infection via the hands of healthcare workers, World Hand-Hygiene Day is an opportunity to remind and inspire healthcare professionals about how critical hand-hygiene is to help reduce healthcare-associated infections,” says Carolyn Berland, Senior Scientist at Essity.

Appropriate wound care also plays a decisive role in the prevention of sepsis, as any break in the skin can allow bacteria to enter and cause an infection. Even though all wounds, simple or complex, need to be treated, this is especially true for chronic wounds in high-risk patients with weakened immune systems. Wounds should always be monitored for signs of infection and one must ensure that they are appropriately cleansed between dressing changes.

In order to support the WHO’s efforts around increased sepsis awareness and to provide tools to help prevent sepsis among your patients, Essity and its brands Tork and Leukoplast have developed a campaign in the shape of a 3-step call to action: Think hygiene. Act to prevent. Care for patients.

For additional information please contact: Kirsty.collard@essity.com

African Cleaning Review May/June 2018

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industry news Creating a joint global platform for the cleaning industry

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SSA, the worldwide cleaning-industry association, and Afidamp FAB, the Italian trade association for cleaningindustry manufacturers, have announced a new partnership focused on jointly developing and executing go-to-market opportunities for their members and the industry at large on a global scale.

This new collaboration is one step in a larger international-expansion strategy for both associations. Under the joint project, ISSA and Afidamp will co-own the existing Pulire family of events, both exhibitions and educational events, as well as develop new options to help connect members and share knowledge across the worldwide cleaning industry.

“ISSA’s goal is to increasingly help our members where they need it, globally, with an expanded set of go-to-market options,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “Afidamp FAB’s existing network of Pulire exhibitions and executive Forum events on multiple continents complement ISSA’s growing initiatives and events in complementary countries. We see this as a great opportunity to share expertise between the two organisations to re-imagine how the industry can do business on the world stage.”

As part of the agreement, all ISSA members will receive a discount to exhibit at the Pulire Verona exhibition on

21-23 May 2019, and all Afidamp FAB members will become members of ISSA and gain access to its full suite of member benefits.

“Over the last 15 years, Afidamp has created an international platform, Pulire, aimed to satisfy the cleaning industry’s interest in many developing countries,” said Afidamp Executive Director Toni d’Andrea. “Our goal is to open a dialogue among these countries to co-ordinate actions, qualify contacts, share experiences, and strengthen the importance of cleaning as an absolute social value. Afidamp and ISSA working together will further this mission by setting more ambitious, new global projects.”

The move expands ISSA’s footprint in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia, adding to its growing family of events and activities under recent deals in Australia, Canada, Europe, Latin America, and South Africa.

ISSA has made it known that it is committed to creating a more unified voice for the global cleaning industry and that call has resonated with many organisations in various countries over the past two years, leading to 14 mergers and partnerships that have expanded the association’s membership by more than 2 000 organisations in 2018 alone, for a total of 9 200 corporate members.

“The world is increasingly more connected, and cleaning-industry leaders have begun to recognise that the largely localised and fragmented nature of associations and industry events no longer fits today’s demanding business model,” said ISSA International Service Vice President Dianna Steinbach. “We must come together to find common efficiencies and evolve how we meet the world’s growing commercial and institutional cleaning needs.”

“This has been a partnership a long time in the making,” said Barrett. “We are pleased to take better advantage of the long-standing relationship between ISSA and Afidamp, to create new possibilities.”

“This isn’t just an American group and Italian group talking only about exhibitions. We are looking at the global landscape to paint a more comprehensive picture of the global cleaning industry, its needs and its potential. And we encourage others in the industry to join us to define the landscape of tomorrow,” concluded Barrett.

For more information visit: www.issa.comom

ISSA announce keynote speaker for SA Summit

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he very first African ISSA Executive Summit aimed at the professional cleaning and hygiene industry is set to take place in Cape Town on 6 September 2018. During May ISSA, the worldwide association for the cleaning and hygiene industry, announced Lynn Baker as the keynote speaker. Baker is a certified world-class speaking coach with vast experience who developed an Executive Presence model to drive customer experience.

She aims to assist delegates to define the difference between customer service and the customer experience.

Delegates to the Summit will learn the 6 key demands of today’s savvy

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African Cleaning Review May/June 2018

customers and how to increase sales and strengthen customer loyalty through a better customer experience. On the day Baker will also present a Master Class on Customer Journey Mapping during ‘deep-dive’ sessions. Her presentation to management audiences cuts through the clutter and provides the key drivers of creating a successful customerexperience strategy.

In addition and in a separate track, the ISSA will present their International Accredited Auditing Professional (IAAP) certificate workshop. ISSA EMEA Programme Development Director, KarelJan Boel, will present this concurrent workshop aimed at top operations people.

Lynn Baker His presentation will assist delegates to analyse operations data, evaluate quality and calibrate cleaning services in order to provide more value to customers.

For more information or to book your seat contact: nande@cleantex.co.za

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educational

Living with artificial intelligence (AI) Hands-free machines bring great potential to the cleaning industry, according to Diversey’s Jan Willem Tinge, as detailed in this abridged article published recently in Facility Cleaning & Maintenance. Cleaning technology has come a long way in recent years. While the mop is still used by many businesses to quickly clean floors, ride-on and walk-behind scrubbers are becoming mainstays because they are both effective and highly efficient, according to Tinge.

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he latest wave of floor-cleaning equipment brings domestic robotic devices to the commercial market. Larger in size, these hands-free machines run autonomously, helping cleaning teams achieve consistent results and improving productivity by reassigning workers to other key priorities beyond floor care, which is often time-consuming when performed manually. They are also equipped with features that enhance safety for those in the vicinity of the machines and are ideal for eliminating musculo-skeletal strain on cleaning workers.

In Canada, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for the most lost-time injuries, the highest lost-time claim costs and the most lost-time workdays of any type of injury. Repetitive motions are one of the causes of MSDs. Until now, the standard advice for reducing MSDs has been to limit the extent to which workers bend, twist and stretch by providing angled tools and batterypowered equipment. This can help, but floors still need to be maintained every day to ensure high cleaning and visual standards. The improved option is to utilise hands-free machines that reduce worker involvement in floor maintenance without sacrificing the quality of service.

Hands-free machines can also solve labour-scarcity problems. The cleaning industry as a whole struggles with maintaining a consistent workforce.

High turnover is the result of monotonous tasks and the fact that cleaning is not seen as an exciting job, especially by younger generations.

However, attracting younger workers

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African Cleaning Review May/June 2018

Implementing hands-free machines provides a way to appeal to younger professionals who are interested in working with and alongside innovative technologies. In some cases, having hands-free machines can also serve as a marketing differentiator to set a company apart from its competitors and further entice potential employees or customers. is essential as many baby boomers are exiting the workforce.

Implementing hands-free machines provides a way to appeal to younger professionals who are interested in working with and alongside innovative technologies. In some cases, having hands-free machines can also serve as a marketing differentiator to set a company apart from its competitors and further entice potential employees or customers.

Selecting the correct machine Today’s robotic machines have a number of capabilities to enhance the cleaning process. When selecting a machine, buyers should inquire about standard and added features such as built-in sensors, a fleet management system, cleaning-solution flow technology, site-performance tracking and the ability to conduct software updates.

Sensors assist machines to avoid obstacles and staircases in their path.

educational Sensors also allow robotic machines to be more efficient because they don’t need operators to help them manoeuvre around objects and people. A combination of sonar, 2-D Lidar, touchshield sensors and floor-detector sensors will ensure a safe and intelligent machine.

It’s important for managers to be able to remotely access the machine’s location, activity and critical service information when they are not on-site or in the same area as the machine.

Having a fleet management system not only saves time but can also help reduce downtime and maintenance costs.

Today, technology exists that allows machines to dispense the proper amount of cleaning solution and water onto the floor according to the speed of the machine. Controlling chemical use has a positive impact on both the environment and safety. For example, more accurate dosing reduces waste and the potential for injury-inducing slip-and-fall accidents that can occur when too much liquid is used to clean floors.

UV-Disinfection robot to increase patient safety

This article takes a closer look at the development of a mobile

The way forward Some people are under the impression that robots will eventually replace the roles of humans in some market sectors. However, it’s more likely that autonomous floor-care machines will continue to enhance the way that work is completed in the commercial-cleaning industry. Looking ahead, manufacturers may focus on features such as antihacking systems, log files and enhanced energy consumption to encourage enhanced battery management. For now, robotic machines are reliable and costeffective teammates that are easy to use and maintain.

Businesses that are considering purchasing a machine should research the features included and the benefits that the innovation will provide to their facility maintenance operations. In many cases, an autonomous cleaner is a smart investment that will not only put a smile on the faces of the cleaning team, but also those of facility occupants and visitors.

Jan Willem Tinge is Vice President of the facilities and machines platform at Diversey, a leader in smart, sustainable solutions for cleaning and hygiene. For more information visit: www.intellibotrobotics.com

UV-Disinfection Robot that would provide an effective and safe way of disinfecting hospital rooms.

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t has been reported that each year approximately 50 000 Danes experience hospital-acquired infection (HAI) during hospitalisation and an estimated 3 000 people die from infection-related complications.

For Denmark, that results in USD 162 million of preventable annual expenses. The numbers are much higher for the USA – USD 30 billion and USD 600 million for Australia.

With variable sources of infections there is a great need for effective disinfection processes.

With this in mind, Blue Ocean Robotics and leading university hospitals in Scandinavia cooperated in the RoBi-X Partnership in creating a new disinfection solution, the UV-Disinfection Robot. The UVDisinfection Robot is a mobile robot that can drive autonomously while emitting concentrated UV-C light (short-wavelength ultraviolet light) onto pre-defined infectious hotspots in patient rooms, ORs and other

hospital environments. Clinical tests have proven that an exposure time of only ten minutes eliminates up to 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses on the irradiated surface and improves patient and hospital staff safety.

Some of the main national goals for the Danish healthcare system are: shortening the length of stay in hospital per admission, improving patient safety, and general patient satisfaction. Current, non-robotic, cleaning processes in hospitals still result in a high number of HAIs that lead to a prolonged hospitalisation, re-admission of patients, sick leave among infected hospital staff, and even deaths.

Even the most precise manual disinfection of patients rooms and ORs does not assure the elimination of some of the dangerous bacteria, viruses and other harmful microorganisms located in hospitals as their growth depends on many

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educational factors like air quality or temperature, and some bacteria show resistance to chemical-disinfection products.

This contributes to the growth of preventable hospitalisations, jeopardises patient safety, and concludes with low patient satisfaction.

The solutions to this problem previously provided by the market were stationary machines that required up to an hour to be positioned and set up for work. With this in mind, Sygehuspartnerskabet, the formal partnership between five Danish regions and The Market Development Fund aiming at promoting development and market demand for new commercial hospital solutions, made an open call to find a solution to this fundamental healthcare-sector problem.

A company by the name of Blue Ocean Robotics presented themselves and proved to be the best partner for the challenge. Subsequently the RoBi-X Partnership was initiated and a process was put into place by the two

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organisations to design a robot that would provide an effective and safe way of disinfecting hospital rooms.

The RoBi-Design phase was initiated in 2015 where the business plan for the project and the concept of the UV-Disinfection Robot were created with the collaboration of the two parties. Through a series of interactive processes and milestones the partners determined the focal points, main obstacles and the most desired solutions. The two-way cooperation and exchange of expertise was the key to the RoBi-X Partnership which ensured the creation of the most optimal and successful solution.

During the second phase – RoBiDevelop – the development team worked on building the robot based on the technology platform TP-Mobile, which is one of Blue Ocean Robotics’ integrated technology platforms involving both software and hardware.

By utilising TP-Mobile it was possible to create a robot capable of locating and positioning itself, avoiding obstacles

and navigating safely through its surroundings. In September of 2016, the UV-Disinfection Robot was ready for the first clinical tests at Odense University Hospital over a period of more than 3 weeks at one of the most demanding departments of the hospital: the Children’s Department of Contagious Infectious Diseases. The results were more than satisfactory, the UV-Disinfection Robot proved not only to neutralise 99.9 percent of the bacteria on an exposed surface during a time span of just 10 minutes, but also managed to move safely around the hospital.

“The UV-Disinfection Robot will improve and simplify the way we currently disinfect patient rooms.

And by letting the robot support the cleaning, we aim to reduce the number of hospital-acquired infections, sick leave days and – last but not least – the number of deaths due to infections acquired during hospitalisation”, says Peder Jest, Executive Director, Odense University Hospital.

advertorial ICE Introducing Intelligent Cleaning Equipment

ICE – Intelligent Cleaning Equipment is now available locally. ICE offers smart technology and introduces the latest in auto-scrubbers, commercial vacuum cleaners, floor burnishers, sweepers, carpet vacuum extractors and ride-on auto-scrubbers to the South African market.

About ICE Smart technology. Spotless floors.

Founded in 2011 by Simon Chen, the ICE group of companies currently sell professional cleaning equipment in 20 countries and regions around the world. Towards the end of 2017 ICE deployed 6 280 rental cleaning machines in the Chinese market and currently employs 241 people worldwide. The group’s current range of cleaning equipment includes wet and dry vacuums, carpet extractors and air movers, single discs, auto-scrubbers as well as ride-on scrubbers and sweepers.

Simon Chen, Founder and CEO Simon Chen graduated from California State University, Fresno and has 23 years’ experience in the commercial-cleaning-equipment industry, having founded the Viper Group in 1994, which at the time was the first company to manufacture cleaning equipment in China and the first non-American brand to gain a foothold in the US market. Viper was acquired by Nilfisk-Advance in 2007. “Our extensive industry experience and innovative designing team ensures ICE is one of the few high-quality manufacturers in our industry. ICE believes the durability and reasonably priced spare parts are what the customers need. Every decision we make is based upon these needs with no compromise. Our mission is to lower cleaningmachine-ownership costs for our customers!”

Featuring the i24BT, Traction-Drive Walk Behind Auto-Scrubber from ICE • Intuitive, ergonomic controls for simple operation • Large 57-litre solution tank improves working efficiency • Two pad pressure settings for flexible cleaning • 150AM batteries, on board charger, pad drivers and squeegee included • Change squeegees and pads quickly without the use of tools • Traction-drive forward and reverse • Filter assembly and auto-float shut-off protects the vacuum motor • Heavy duty die-cast aluminium brush deck • Front red strobe lights supports safety while cleaning • 3-year warranty

Easy access to internal components, plus quick-change squeegee blades, pads and brushes.

Easy operation with ergonomic handle and state-of-the-art control panel.

Join the cleaning revolution! Contact ICE South Africa for more information: Tel: 0861 ICE4SA | Email: kyle@ice4sa.co.za | Website: www.ice4sa.co.za African Cleaning Review May/June 2018

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laundry review Bringing transparency to the laundry process

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n March this year Diversey introduced its IntelliLinen™ laundry dispenser powered by Diversey’s Internet of Clean (IoC). The IntelliLinen™ system provides real-time and remote transparency of energy and water consumption, chemical accuracy, machine downtime and day-to-day operational costs to prevent costly disruptions and errors within laundry operations.

“Technology for laundry operations needs to evolve in order for businesses to improve productivity,” said Hans de Ridder, Vice President – Global Fabric Care & Laundry Platform at Diversey.

“By harnessing the power of the IoC, IntelliLinen™ dispensers pull essential data for managers to bring laundry care to a whole new level.”

Part of Diversey’s Internet of Clean™ platform, the IntelliLinen™ dispenser connects to any mobile device to give teams visibility of the entire washing process together with actionable insights. It highlights where laundry managers can reduce water and energy consumption, where chemical dosage can be more accurate, re-wash levels can

be reduced, which machines are being under utilised or where they are creating bottlenecks, where hygiene compliance is compromised and more. These indepth insights help minimise disruptions and improve a laundry’s washing results, productivity, budget control, sustainability and hygiene compliance.

“Whether used by on-premise laundries at hotels or hospitals, or industrial facilities servicing numerous organisations, IntelliLinen™ enhances control over, and improves the transparency of, the laundry operation,” added de Ridder. “Now, managers can

achieve the results they want each and every time and ensure the best guest experience at the lowest operational cost.”

Diversey received a nomination in the Management & Mobility Solutions/ECleaning category of the 12th Interclean Amsterdam Innovation Awards with the IntelliLinen™ system. Visitors to the show are able to vote for their favourite innovation in the Visitor’s Choice category.

For more information visit: www.diversey.com/diversey-care/intellilinen

PTC best practices workshop held in Algeria

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Presenting at the workshop is Peter Wennekes, President and CEO of CINET.

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n April the Algerian company Pressing Belaroussi and CINET, the international umbrella association for professional textile care (PTC) organised a Best Practices Workshop PTC Algeria at the Hotel Du Val in the capital Algiers.

Attendance to the northern African country’s event consisted of some of the most important stakeholders in the Algerian PTC market, owners of laundry companies, suppliers’ representatives and hotel industry managers.

The presentations mainly focused on the following major topics: an overview of the best practices in PTC (retail and

laundry review

Workshop PTC Algeria participants.

industrial laundry) by Peter Wennekes, President & CEO of CINET, followed by a presentation of the Algerian market’s current status and challenges for the local industry, by Faycal Belaroussi, CEO Pressing Belaroussi, Algeria. Amina Hemmadi (Director at Nosoclean Algeria) presented a case

study on implementing best practice measures, followed by a presentation of CINET’s ‘World of PTC Business School’ programme, by Nicolae Damu, International Marketing & Communication Manager (CINET).

The most important topics regarding the challenges faced by

the Algerian and regional PTC market were the subject of a positive and intense debate during the successful event. Delegates, including all major stakeholders, expressed increased commitment towards implementing the best practices principles and measures.

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feature floorcare solutions

Caring for diverse flooring options Different flooring finishes require diverse cleaning solutions in order to maintain their appearance and in order to enjoy the full lifetime of the investment. The following two articles look at the care of two very different floor finishes.

1. THE GREAT CARPET REVIVAL

Gordon McVean

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ven the best-quality carpet loses its looks and comforting feel without a regular restorative clean. Design and décor trends change, but carpets will always have a place where people want comfort and texture. However, if they are neglected, that appeal may fade as carpets take on a downtrodden look and feel. Gordon McVean, International Sales and Marketing Director of Truvox International, explains the transformative science of encapsulation.

Don’t despair. More often than not, a good-quality carpet can be revived to its former glory through deep cleaning using encapsulation. This form of restorative cleaning should be part of the annual cleaning plan if you want to enjoy the full serviceable life of your investment in carpeting.

Carpet care begins and ends, of course, with vacuuming. Interim maintenance or spot cleaning, perhaps with some light surface extraction, is often required every week or two, depending on footfall and staining.

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The restorative deep clean – quarterly or twice yearly – is designed to remove any residue left by those other cleaning procedures and to revive the texture of the carpet. As well as its often dramatic visual effect, an encap clean should also help improve indoor air quality.

There’s some clever polymer chemistry behind our Cimex-Encap carpet-cleaning process, but first, a thorough vacuum is essential. This will remove all the dry material – such as dust and grit – that accounts for around 80 percent of carpet soiling.

Encapsulation tackles the remaining 20 percent – sticky/oily soil embedded in the pile.

A carpet-cleaning solution specially designed for this purpose is applied and worked into the pile using a Cimex Cyclone machine. Equipped with three brushes, or pads, it scrubs the carpet.

The solution is left to dry, and as it does so, it loosens the sticky soil and encapsulates it. Vacuuming then easily removes this material, leaving a revitalised carpet. Cimex-Encap is a low-moisture process. Guiding the machine at a quick-walking pace, the operator needs to apply only enough solution to dampen the carpet. This surface dampness is sufficient to get the polymeric chemistry working.

Carpets instantly look cleaner as the solution releases the sticky dirt that was coating the carpet fibres.

As the moisture level is low, carpets are touch-dry in as little as 45 minutes, or at most two hours. And walking on the damp carpet will not cause problems. However, to maximise the encapsulation effect, we recommend letting the carpet dry overnight, if possible, before vacuuming. This

form of restorative cleaning is highly productive as well as cost-effective.

About 200m2 of carpet can be deepcleaned per tank-full of solution, though it can vary with the level of soiling and type of carpet.

An area of around 300m2 with light soiling can be treated in an hour. These carpets will come clean with a single wet pass.

Where a carpet is more badly affected by oily soils, it is worth following up the initial spraying stage with a ‘dry’ pass – agitating the pile without dispensing solution – to ensure the Cimex-Encap solution is dispersed thoroughly. Cleaning rates of more than 200m2 per hour should still be feasible.

Only the most heavily soiled carpets require multiple dry passes, reducing output to around 100m2 per hour. If some areas are severely soiled, they can be pre-sprayed with the polymeric solution to break down the bond with the carpet fibres. The sprayed area is left for a short time before the wet/dry pass procedure is followed.

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feature floorcare solutions

Before and after deep cleaning using encapsulation.

It is also possible to use a spotting solution for stains in conjunction with the Cimex-Encap system. This needs to be specially formulated as other chemicals can interfere with the encapsulation chemistry. Again, once sprayed, the Cimex-Encap spotter solution needs to be left to work for 1-2 minutes. Then the spot should be agitated by hand, with a soft brush or blunt object, working outwards from the centre. All that’s required then is to blot the area with a clean cloth, without rubbing, so as not to spread staining to the surrounding area. There’s no need to rinse. The encapsulation process does the rest, and this method is equally effective for both water- and oil-based spots and spills.

The edges and corners of carpets tend not to get heavily soiled. However, they may need a bit of special attention if a vacuum does not revive their appearance to the level achieved with encapsulation.

As these areas may be beyond the reach of the Cimex Cyclone, you can

spray the solution and agitate by hand with a stiff brush. Simply leave the area to dry and then vacuum as normal. The entire encapsulation operation is not only highly efficient in terms of labour and chemical use, it’s also a quiet operation.

So carpets can be cleaned during daytime hours with minimal disruption.

But if you’re carrying out encap cleaning progressively, perhaps outside opening hours, it is advisable to tackle separate floors or rooms in each stage.

Otherwise, the impact of the great carpet revival will only highlight the sorry state of untreated areas.

Truvox International is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of commercial and industrial floorcare machines, based in Southampton, England. From the production of its first electrical polishing machines in the early 1960s, Truvox has successfully expanded both its product range and its geographic reach to a point where it is now recognised in over 70 countries worldwide.

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

2. CONCRETE FLOOR CARE 101

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oncrete has become one of the go-to options for industrial and business flooring because of its versatility and durability. This is especially true when concrete is compared to other flooring options like carpet or tile. Concrete floors do require maintenance to retain their appearance, especially if they are subjected to heavy foot traffic in commercial or retail applications.

A concrete floor can be surfaced in numerous different ways, with options ranging from different colouring to stamping patterns, to just polishing and sealing. In this article by Dana Dench of Floorcare.com a closer insight is offered on how you should go about caring for concrete floors with different surface finishes.

Polished concrete A polished concrete floor maintains a high-gloss shine that is both durable and attractive. Despite their

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mirror-like finish, these floors are not exceptionally slippery; in fact, they tend to be less slippery than waxed linoleum or polished marble flooring. You can enhance their anti-slip properties by using a sealer that has a slight grit included, enhancing traction without taking away from the beauty of the floor.

Refinishing a polished concrete floor is a very intensive process requiring the removal of a layer of the surface of the existing concrete with increasingly finer sanding and polishing tools used. A layer of sealant and wax is then pushed into the concrete using a rotary finisher before the entire floor is polished smooth.

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feature floorcare solutions Because the above polishing process takes multiple steps depending on the fineness of the grit, you can choose exactly how glossy you want the end result to be, whether it’s a tastefully muted satin or a gleaming high-gloss.

Maintaining a polished concrete floor is easy with proactive maintenance.

Make sure that any spills are cleaned up immediately to prevent damage to the flooring.

Daily maintenance The polished concrete floor should be dust mopped with a microfibre pad to remove any dirt. Dirt that remains on the floor can scratch the surface and ruin the shine and beauty of the floor.

Weekly maintenance The polished surface should be wet mopped at least once a week, depending on the amount of foot traffic that is seen and the amount of dirt and debris that is tracked in.

An automatic floor scrubber with a soft non-abrasive pad should be used for large areas. For reference, most recommend something that is equivalent to 10 000 grit. For smaller areas, a wet mop with a neutral floor cleaner should suffice. This helps ensure that the debris that dust mops won’t remove, such as grease or other viscous material, are removed before they can damage the surface.

With the proper maintenance, a polished concrete surface should last a lifetime without the need for refinishing.

Plain concrete Plain concrete is often used for sidewalks and the outside patio surfaces of commercial and residential buildings. Routine maintenance for plain concrete involves keeping the surface clean of debris through manual sweeping or the use of a leaf blower.

This can be done in conjunction with a hose to rinse the surfaces clean.

Periodically, the surfaces can be power washed to remove any buildup of soil or discolouration on the concrete. Used in combination with an alkaline degreasing and cleaning solution, power washing will remove everything from oil and grease stains to discolouration caused by rust.

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Stamped concrete Stamped concrete is a poured concrete slab that is then imprinted with patterns.

These patterns replicate the look of stone or brick pavement at a much lower cost while supplying a clean and natural look.

The concrete should be sealed, and if a colour hardener has been added, the surface will be even more resistant to damage. A good sealer will also block stains from oil, grease, and other chemicals. However, stamped concrete maintenance relies on proactive steps to maintain its durability and beauty.

The surface should be swept at least weekly to remove dirt and debris.

Exterior surfaces should also be scrubbed or pressure washed once per year using a mild detergent. If you notice that the concrete is starting to lose its shine, a reapplication of sealer will usually work to restore its sheen.

If the stamped concrete experiences a lot of foot traffic, you may want to also apply a coat of wax or polish. This polish will act as a buffer between the floor and the heavy foot traffic that can serve to damage it.

Stenciled concrete Stenciled concrete has patterns and colourations that are applied to wet concrete, allowing the floor to simulate the look of various bricks or pavers. It is very similar to stamped concrete, except the patterns are applied using disposable paper stencils and specially formulated paints.

Once the stencils are applied, a high-quality sealant and finish should be applied. Once that is done, the only maintenance that the concrete needs is the occasional sweeping or rinsing to keep it free of dirt and debris. If the concrete appears to be losing its lustre, a reapplication of the sealant should restore it back to its original beauty.

Engraved concrete Engraved concrete is a method of putting patterns and designs into existing concrete slabs. Also called concrete etching, this type of floor involves first colouring the concrete and then engraving a specific pattern. Because the colour is on the surface, the engraved portions remain uncoloured and take on the appearance of grout.

Maintaining engraved concrete is much like maintaining plain concrete in that you only need to sweep or rinse away dirt and other surface debris. As the surface sealant is worn away, you will also need to re-apply it in order to help the engraved concrete retain its beauty and colour.

Ensure that you follow the sealer recommendations given to you by the company that does the engraving.

Exposed aggregate concrete This type of concrete allows the small stones that make up the aggregate of the concrete to show through. This can create an exceptionally beautiful surface that is very wear resistant.

Typically, the only treatment done to an exposed aggregate floor is the application of a transparent sealer to protect against water and UV damage.

Maintenance for exposed aggregate flooring only requires the occasional sweeping away of dirt and debris.

An annual power wash can also help restore the beauty of the aggregate.

It should be immediately followed by a reapplication of the sealant after the concrete has dried.

Coloured concrete Coloured concrete should be cleaned and handled much like plain concrete.

That is because, with the exception of a colour additive to the concrete, it is the same. The colour is added to the concrete when it is poured, so the colour runs throughout the concrete, rather than just resting on top.

It is worth noting that occasionally, a phenomenon known as efflorescence can happen on coloured concrete that causes unsightly discolouration. This chalky deposit is caused by calcium carbonate leaching out of the concrete after it is exposed to water. The water reacts with the concrete and the calcium carbonate is forced to the surface as time passes. On coloured concrete, this is easily handled using a mild acidic cleaner specially designed to deal with efflorescence. Once the residue is cleaned, a good sealer should be re-applied to prevent moisture from penetrating the slab and starting the chemical process again.

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editorial ISSA NOW IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE FIRST TIME!

Visit: issa.com/esafrica

International Accredited Auditing Professional (IAAP) Certification Karel-Jan Boel

CALLING ALL CLEANING PROFESSIONALS…

BOOST YOUR CAREER AND YOUR BOTTOM LINE

By attending this one-day global certification workshop you will join an elite group of auditing professionals with a completed IAAP certification! The ISSA’s Program Development Director (EMEA), Karel-Jan Boel will visit South Africa on 6 September 2018 to present this hands-on training opportunity in order to empower cleaning professionals to: • Understand the origin of, and solutions to, deficiencies • Reduce your operating expenses while increasing employee efficiency • Give your clients a value add and the assurance of highquality cleaning: – How to analyse operations data – Incorporating calibration into operations – How to engage/involve the customer or key stakeholders – Hands-on experience in using and demonstrating quality auditing tools. And more...

WHO SHOULD ATTEND AND WHY? • In-house cleaning/hygiene service providers: value proposition to improve quality assurance programme • Professional cleaning/hygiene service contractors: ongoing quality assurance to maintain efficiencies internally, as well as to comply with customer quality requests. Will assist when performing site inspections in order to bid on new tenders • Supplier sales staff: evaluate customer operations to identify areas of improvement or gained efficiency for systems/solutions sold • Industry professionals: interested in quality assurance procedures, this certification provides global credentials for increased credibility and differentiation

IAAP CERTIFICATION COURSE RATES

ISSA/NCCA member: ZAR 2 000.00 | Non-member: ZAR 2 200.00 Date: 6 September, 2018 Location: Lagoon Beach Hotel | Conference | Spa | Cape Town, South Africa Includes summit delegate fees, entry into expo, documentation, parking, lunch, refreshments and entry to networking cocktail function Standard terms and conditions apply. Rates exclude VAT.

For more information or to book your seat contact: nande@cleantex.co.za

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African Cleaning Review May/June 2018

facilities management review

Entrepreneurial success celebrated as SMEs graduate from enterprisedevelopment programme Twenty-one thriving small businesses have graduated from the rigorous two-year incubation programme offered by Property Point as part of the enterprise and supplier development initiatives of South African real-estate leaders Growthpoint Properties and Attacq.

Pictured from left to right and back to the front. Back: Hellen El Haimer – Independent non-executive director of Attacq, Mzolisi Diliza – Chairman of Growthpoint’s Social, Ethics and Transformation board committee, Annemarie Mostert – Owner of Mila Cleaning Services, Best Performing Business Growthpoint SD, Godfrey Sono – Owner of TMT Cleaning, Best Performing Business Attacq ED, Estienne de Klerk – CEO of Growthpoint South Africa, Melt Hamman – CFO of Attacq, Shawn Theunissen – Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Growthpoint. Front: Mpho Sono – Owner of TMT Cleaning, Best Performing Business Attacq ED, Charlotte Khoza – Owner of Mila Cleaning Services, Best Performing Business Growthpoint SD, Olga Ngube – Owner of Kusile Hygiene and Industrial Services, Best Performing Business Growthpoint ED.

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ogether these successful graduating small and growing businesses have created 1 122 jobs, gained 135 new clients and accessed contracts valued at over R271 million.

2018 marks a decade of impact for Property Point, which has been a driver of transformation and small business growth within the property industry over the 10 years since it was founded by Growthpoint in 2008.

In this time, it has created 2 066 full-time jobs and R865.6 million in procurement opportunities generated

for the 130 SMEs that have participated in its two-year incubation programmes.

These small businesses have reported 43 percent growth in revenue.

Shawn Theunissen, head of Property Point and Corporate Social Responsibility at Growthpoint, says: “We are incredibly proud of the achievements of the small businesses in the graduating class of 2018 and we celebrate their fundamental and exceptional growth. Property Point is also delighted to celebrate a decade of impact, during which we have become a leading partnership platform for both public and private participation

in enterprise and supplier development for the property sector. From the start of our journey building sustainable small businesses, we have focused on the need to see and measure our impacts.”

Property Point’s graduating class of small businesses was celebrated at an inspiring ceremony where keynote speaker, musician and Mi Casa frontman, J Something, who has recently opened a restaurant, launched a book and appeared as a judge on My Kitchen Rules SA, inspired the graduates with the story of his own entrepreneurship journey.

Growthpoint South Africa CEO Estienne De Klerk, congratulated the entrepreneurs on graduating from the intense Property Point incubation programme. He pointed out that Growthpoint itself started small.

In 2001, it owned only nine properties worth R100 million. Today, 17 years later, Growthpoint is the largest South African primary JSE-listed REIT and provides space to thrive in a diversified portfolio of 559 property assets, locally and internationally, with a total value approaching R130 billion.

De Klerk said: “Creating successful entrepreneurs and small businesses is absolutely essential for the success of South Africa. We as business, small and big, need to make a difference. To ensure that our economy moves in the right direction, we need to stand up, be brave, and change the way that we, as South Africans, see our place in the bigger scheme of the economy. We all need to contribute. This is why Growthpoint established Property Point and today its success has exceeded anything we thought possible.”

African Cleaning Review May/June 2018

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facilities management review He added: “To achieve these positive economic impacts, collaboration is imperative, and I thank Attacq for partnering with Property Point. The result of our partnership is significant for small-business development, but also for the future direction of the initiative itself. There is increasing pressure on business to not only do good, but to prove and measure the difference they are making. No programme in the property sector is more successful at doing this than Property Point. It is very relevant for the industry today and, with even more collaboration, Property Point can become a powerful industry initiative.”

The property industry stands to benefit from the services of these professional, experienced and innovative businesses, which all offer skills and services for the real-estate sector. They are: 1. TT Holdings owned by Thapelo Tlhapane 2. Arebone Building and Cleaning Enterprise owned by Dwaine Moth 3. Kusile Hygiene and Industrial Services owned by Olga and Sifiso Ncube 4. Kgoano Infrastructure Solutions owned by Kate Morekhure 5. Orizoe Services owned by Orianda Ntsompo 6. Lazar Robotics and Welding owned

by Ranzel Louw

7. Mapitsi Holdings owned by Rahab Matebane 8. Imbewenhle Airconditioning and Refrigeration owned by Trueman Myeza 9. Koena Engineering and IT Solutions owned by Kagiso Mokoena 10. Inzaghi Trading and Projects owned

by Clive Mailula 11. Mila Cleaning Services owned by Charlotte Khoza and Annemarie Mostert 12. Sosha Facilities owned by Rupesh Nath 13. Smith and Madisha owned by Alice Madisha 14. Ndabendala Trading Enterprise owned by Thulani Mlotshwa 15. DVY Properties and Maintenance owned by Vernon Govender 16. Nonku Ntshona Associates and Quantity Surveyors owned by Nonkululeko Ntshona 17. Thatego Holdings owned by Thabo and Dorcas Malefetse 18. Makasela Air owned by Tiyani Khoza 19. Twin Cities owned by Chris Ndongeni 20. Ndzilo Fire Protection owned by Themba Ndlovu and Henchard Njoni 21. TMT Cleaning owned by Mpho and Godfrey Sono Rewarding excellence, Property Point gave three outstanding graduates and four runners-up a combined R360 000

boost for their businesses – R70 000 for each winner and R50 000 for the runner-up position in each intake.

The top achiever among the five Attacq enterprise and supplier development graduates was TMT Cleaning and the runner-up was Makasela Air. The top performer of the nine Growthpoint enterprise-development graduates was Kusile Hygiene and Industrial Services, and sharing the award for the runner-up position were Arebone Building and Cleaning Enterprise and Kgoane Infrastructure Solutions.

Top of the seven Growthpoint supplier development graduates was Mila Cleaning Services, and the runner-up was Ndabendala Trading Enterprise.

In addition, several special awards were given by Property Point for outstanding achievement by the graduating small businesses. The awards were given to Imbewenhle Airconditioning and Refrigeration, Mila Cleaning Services, and Thatego Holdings for brand ambassadorship.

TMT Cleaning scooped the innovation award, Koena Engineering and IT Solutions won the wealth creation award and Kusile Hygiene and Industrial Services received the job creation award.

Recycled chandeliers find new home

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earners at Grayston Preparatory School are now able to see for themselves that recycling isn’t only better for the environment, but it can assist in making the world beautiful too.

Morningside Shopping Centre in

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Johannesburg donated five chandeliers that were hanging in the shopping centre to Grayston Preparatory School.

The chandeliers, shaped into exquisite balls of white flowers, are made from recycled plastic milk bottles by acclaimed South African artist Heath Nash. Through art, Nash aims to shine a light on the importance of environmental sustainability through recycling.

Morningside Shopping Centre manager, Sharon Henry says the centre is thrilled to continue building strong ties with schools in the community while also caring for the environment by carrying on the artist’s vision to reduce,

reuse and recycle. “Morningside Shopping Centre has become the community shopping centre of choice for the surrounding schools’ families and we are delighted that our chandeliers will find a new purpose in educating youngsters about art and conservation.”

Che McKay, Head of Grayston Preparatory School, adds: “The school is very grateful for the generous donation of the recycled chandeliers.

We’re looking forward to displaying the chandeliers around the school campus and educating the learners on how art can be created using simple recycled materials.”

advertorial KCP

African Cleaning Review May/June 2018

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feature hand-hygiene

Save lives: Clean your hands Every year the World Health Organization (WHO) SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands campaign aims to bring people together in support of hand-hygiene improvement globally and this year World HandHygiene Day was celebrated on 5 May. The WHO urges ministries of health, health facility leaders, IPC leaders, health workers and patient advocacy groups to take action on hand- hygiene. In addition, the WHO also invites healthcare facilities to join the global campaign to demonstrate ongoing commitment to hand-hygiene and infection prevention and control (IPC). In celebration of the Clean Your Hands campaign and in order to help raise awareness of the importance of hand-hygiene, African Cleaning Review takes a closer look at hand-hygiene compliance, use of smartphones in washrooms and asset tracking in healthcare facilities.

The future of hand-hygiene compliance in healthcare Effective monitoring is an essential part of any hand-hygiene programme says Paul Jakeway of the Deb Group.

In this article he looks at how common methods fall short, and why group monitoring is the way forward for the healthcare sector.

Hand-hygiene compliance is a major issue for hospitals. The UK Department of Health estimates that roughly 300 000 patients develop a healthcare associated infection (HAI) in England every year, with 5 000 of those cases proving fatal. HAIs cost the National Health Service around GBP 1 bn a year, and eight out of ten infections are spread through contact with hands.

However, a third of people fail to wash their hands after visiting the washroom – despite 95 percent of people saying they wash every time. Effective monitoring is the answer to this, and is the key to improving hand-hygiene compliance. The issue is that many monitoring methods can’t provide accurate or useful data and insight to work from.

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Most commonly, ‘direct observation’ is used – human observers physically monitoring staff behaviour as they perform their day-to-day duties, and determining the healthcare facility’s compliance in line with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) ‘Five Moments for Hand-Hygiene’.

Direct observation is strewn with limitations. Observational programmes are typically conducted manually, with limited sophistication in the gathering or analysis of the data compiled. And, with such obvious scrutiny, it is common for the ‘Hawthorne Effect’ to manifest itself, where medical staff are aware they are being watched, and exhibit different behaviour from normal. As a result, compliance rates are artificially high, and not a true reflection of actual handhygiene habits.

There are several alternative monitoring options available to healthcare providers, but making the right decision on which to choose has a significant impact on its success – both in terms of handhygiene compliance rates and any financial implications in its installation and operating costs.

With many of the technological solutions now available on the market, however, there are still drawbacks that must be accounted for. Take video monitoring as an example – 24/7 surveillance exposes healthcare institutions to exactly the same pitfalls as traditional direct observation. Having people trawl through hours of video footage from locations across a whole hospital site is costly, and practically impossible to keep track of effectively.

On this basis, a group monitoring solution that promotes the spirit of collective responsibility among healthcare teams is ideal. This allows hospitals to keep track of hand-hygiene events in real-time and measure compliance rates against the WHO’s ‘5 Moments’ beyond just room entry and exit. It simply requires a non-intrusive system that does not disrupt workflow, but is sophisticated enough to gather genuinely accurate data.

The answer then, is electronic auditing – a cost-effective method that is considerably more reliable than direct monitoring. It captures 100 percent of hand-hygiene events and uses a detailed algorithm to measure the result against the 5 Moments, providing operators with precise, quantified data that enables them to increase compliance.

Just as importantly, the hospitals can implement such a system without causing any disruption to daily working practices.

Operators can access easy-to-digest webbased reports, giving them the insight to

feature hand-hygiene make informed decisions on how certain teams or departments can improve their compliance. Then, by clearly displaying hand-hygiene trends and statistics for each hospital unit, staff can collaborate on compliance improvement plans, set goals and work as a team to do everything in their power to improve hand-hygiene – reducing the instances of HAIs. To make any hand-hygiene compliance programme work effectively, healthcare

institutions are recommended to improve the way they monitor the hand-hygiene events and opportunities that occur in their facilities. Group monitoring, backed up by an effective and accurate electronic data collection system, is the key to achieving this – and enhancing patient safety.

Improving patient care by reducing the risks of hospital acquired infection: A progress report.

NAO, ‘Reducing Healthcare Associated Infections in Hospitals in England’ https://www.nao.org.uk/ wp-content/uploads/2009/06/0809560es.pdf Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ‘The importance of good handwashing techniques’ http://www.initial.co.uk/blog/

Sources:

importance-good-hand-washing-techniques.

House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts – Twenty-fourth Report 2004-05:

For more information visit: www.debgroup.com

Using smartphones in the washroom risks poor health

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orkers risk poor health by browsing the internet, reading emails and updating social media when in the washroom. Routinely washing hands is not adequate as office workers’ bad toilet habits are exposed.

Research from Initial, a global leader in hygiene services, has found that a third of workers use their smartphones in the office washroom, leading to major concerns about the spread of germs and disease in the office. The study of office workers in the UK, France, Germany, Australia and Malaysia found that in the office washroom, 35 percent read or browse online, 18 percent play games, 13 percent update their social media status and 12 percent bring in food or drink.

The survey looked at 5 000 people in five markets around the world to understand the state of hand-washing habits in office environments. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hand-hygiene is “the most important measure to avoid the transmission of harmful germs.”

While 84 percent of office workers claim to always wash their hands after visiting the washroom and 27 percent claim to wash their hands for more than 20 seconds every time, many office workers exhibit unhygienic habits such as reading or browsing online whilst in the toilet. Social media and playing games were found to be the favourite smartphone activities in the washroom.

Of those who admitted to using their

phone in the washroom, 55 percent use Facebook and 43 percent use WhatsApp, while 15 percent play Candy Crush and one in ten (9 percent) admitted to playing Pokémon Go. Dr Lisa Ackerley, a leading hygiene expert, comments, “While bringing a smartphone or a newspaper into the washroom may seem like a good way to pass the time, the danger is that germs are easily transferred from unwashed hands to objects that are routinely used throughout the day. When workers wipe and then resume playing with their phones or simply pick them up before washing their hands, their phone becomes a fantastic reservoir for germs such as bacteria and viruses which will re-contaminate even washed hands, meaning germs can be easily passed around the office. Germs are also easily dispersed through the air when the toilet is flushed, so a smartphone that is near the toilet when you flush could become even more contaminated.”

One single bacterium can multiply into more than eight million cells in less than 24 hours and the typical office worker’s

hands come into contact with 10 million bacteria per day. According to the study’s findings, such poor hygiene habits means that it is increasingly likely that germs will be readily spread – leading to colds and other infections in the office and especially during the winter months when Norovirus or flu pandemics are commonplace.

Mark Reader, Group Category Director, Rentokil Initial stated, “With around a third of respondents failing to use soap every time they wash their hands, it is no wonder that 42 percent of people said that they avoid shaking hands with someone who had just left the office washroom. Behaviours like not using soap have serious implications for the health of office workers and the productivity of businesses. According to the new research, 45 percent of workers who did not always wash their hands blamed external factors, such as being in a hurry. The washroom environment was also found to be the biggest contributory factor, with 50 percent of respondents blaming an aspect of the washroom for driving them away. In fact, 16 percent avoided washing their hands when the

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feature hand-hygiene hand-hygiene practices are important.

Smartphones are evidently a big cause of cross contamination in the office and can be the starting point for a germ’s journey around the office.

“Employers have an important role to play to support their workers’ handhygiene. Simple initiatives like notices urging workers to wash, dry and sanitise their hands after visiting the washroom, before eating and when hot desking and discouraging the use of mobile phones in the washroom can make a huge difference. Creating a clean, pleasant and well-stocked washroom is an effective way to support workers’ hand-hygiene and overall health.”

• 30 percent of office workers do not always use soap when washing their hands • 48 percent of office workers do not always wash their hands before eating • 38 percent of office workers felt that they should spend more time washing hands at work • 31 percent of office workers are more likely to wash their hands if someone is watching • Of those workers who do not always wash their hands, 37 percent blamed being in a rush and 17 percent blamed running late for meeting or a call.

Initial Hygiene is a global leader in hygiene

smell is bad, 20 percent when there was no soap or paper towels, and 15 percent when the hand-washing facility was not clean. Reader continues, “We are all exposed to germs in our working lives, and when 49 percent of office workers usually or always eat at their desk and 32 percent are working from a hot desk some or all of the time, good

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Other research findings include:

services operating in over 45 countries across the

• 54 percent of office workers said they would be “disgusted” if a colleague didn’t wash their hands after visiting the washroom • 24 percent of office workers have told someone else that they neglected to wash their hands after using the washroom

world including the major economies of Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and Africa. It provides innovative and environmentally responsible washroom services solutions to large and small organisations across a range of business sectors.

For more information about hand-hygiene visit: www.initial.co.za

feature hand-hygiene

How asset tracking can set new standards of hand-hygiene in healthcare facilities Patient safety is paramount, however, in the UK today approximately 300 000 patients contract a healthcare associated infection (HAI) whilst being treated in a healthcare facility, costing the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) GBP 1 billion a year. “With the costs of HAIs to the NHS spiraling and remaining a persistent threat to patient safety, it’s imperative that hospitals find solutions to effectively monitor hand-hygiene compliance”, says Martyn Hodgkinson in an article originally published by the Deb Group.

An RFID asset-tracking solution can uniquely link with point-of-care handsanitiser dispensers to accurately record real-time

A

s patients regularly move throughout a healthcare facility, there is a risk of infections spreading even further. Therefore, it is imperative that any hand-hygienecompliance monitoring system works across different wards and not just at the hospital top level. This will ensure that accurate results of hand-hygiene moments are captured.

Every hospital in the UK is equipped with thousands of medical devices worth billions of pounds. Over the last few years, healthcare professionals have started to see the benefits of assettracking solutions using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to track equipment such as infusion pumps, ECG monitors, beds, syringe drivers and much more.

There are two key drivers behind the need for RFID as part of an effective medical device management system including: difficulties in managing and locating medical devices, and legal, regulatory and policy forces.

Published in February 2016, The Carter Report sets out how non-specialist Acute Trusts can increase productivity and

efficiency to save the NHS GBP 5 billion each year by 2020 to 2021 by grasping resources more effectively.

Lord Carter states “the best performing hospital systems around the world have real-time monitoring and reporting at their fingertips, enabling them to make decisions on a daily, weekly and monthly basis to improve quality and efficiency performance”.

An RFID asset-tracking solution can uniquely link with point-of-care handsanitiser dispensers to accurately record real-time hand-hygiene events and report data across hospital wards. It can record the exact location of each event, even if a bed is moved to another part of the hospital.

To ensure hand-hygiene compliance remains top of mind, DebMed announced it has partnered with RFiD Discovery, the recognised brand for radio frequency identification solutions for the healthcare industry, in order to introduce an innovative tracking system to the market.

The system now allows hospitals to track all hand-hygiene events in conjunction with the WHO’s 5 Moments

hand-hygiene events and report data across hospital wards. It can record the exact location of each event, even if a bed is moved to another part of the hospital. of Hand-Hygiene allowing for accurate hand-hygiene compliance figures.

The solution combines breakthrough technologies and incorporates a unique tag into the bracket that sits at the end of the bed, which is vital for performing point-of-care hand-hygiene and will ensure accurate data is collected, regardless of where a bed is located or moved to.

Sources: National Institute for Healthcare & Excellence, 2011 https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/ uploads/2015/04/10-amr-lon-reducing-hcai.pdf For more information visit:www.debgroup.com

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people and events New GCE showroom offers enhanced multi-brand demo facility

Pictured from left to right: Tony Siddle (Chairman Goscor Group), Greg Venter (MD Goscor Cleaning Equipment) Otto Rainer (Tennant) and Peter Amm (CEO InServe).

Towards the end of March Goscor Cleaning Equipment (GCE) officially opened its brand new ultra-modern showroom at its head office in Edenvale, Johannesburg.

A key feature of the new showroom is that the refurbished floor surface comprises of various materials, from carpeting to hardwood, tiles, vinyl, laminate and concrete, for the purposes of ‘live’ demonstrations on different surfaces.

“We have invested a lot of time and resources in the new facility to provide our staff with improved training facilities and to be able to showcase our broad product range to clients on the diverse surface types,” said GCE National Sales Manager Peter Esterhuizen.

The GCE team also unveiled the T500 – one of the latest auto-scrubber machines in the Tennant range of floorcare equipment. Some of the other leading cleaning-equipment brands showcased are MAER, GHIBLI, Delfin, Kaivac and Green Machines.

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

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new products Kärcher presents autonomous cleaning in Amsterdam Cleaning-equipment manufacturer Kärcher will present several innovations at the company’s stand during the Interclean Amsterdam show in May this year. Arguably, the star of the 2018 stand will be the first robot model from the new product series ’KIRA‘ (Kärcher Intelligent Robotic Applications). The autonomous scrubber dryer KIRA B 50 can be used economically even on small areas. It is able to autonomously accomplish its specified cleaning tasks and then move to its docking station if necessary to reload the lithium-ion batteries, fill up with fresh water, and discharge dirty water. The KIRA B 50 is nominated for the Interclean Amsterdam Innovation Awards in the Machines category.

A further innovation is the battery-powered hand vacuum cleaner HV 1/1 Bp. The combination of powerful suction performance and cordless freedom is said to save up to 25 percent in operating time.

It is possible to work for over 30 minutes, without interruption at ‘eco-efficiency’ level with reduced operating noise. The vacuum cleaner is available in three versions with corresponding accessories for facility cleaners, craftsmen and for interior vehicle cleaning.

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new products Higher cleaning performance with new scrub-head sizes During a recent event at the Goscor Cleaning Equipment (GCE) head office in Johannesburg the company unveiled the new T500e scrubber-dryer from Tennant.

The T500e represents an upgrade of the T5, including new scrubhead sizes available in five different configurations. “The new model offers unmatched versatility and consistent results, while lowering total cleaning costs, due to its no-nonsense, easy-touse design,” says GCE National Sales Director Peter Esterhuizen.

The machine’s redesigned squeegee and integrated P-trap reduce the risk of slips and falls, while also improving water pick-up and preventing water from dripping onto floors after cleaning. The optional flow-control valve decreases the risk of contact with dirty recovery water, which mitigates the need for secondary cleaning in the event of any spillages.

According to Esterhuizen the T500e

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provides faster scrub and transport speeds, thanks to a high-speed transaxle that increases productivity. It also has longer run-times, in addition to new yellow daily maintenance touch points. The new easy-access front bucket fill location makes it easy to fill the machine.

The T500e’s 85-litre solution tank is easy to clean, which prevents the build-up of mould, bacteria, and other contaminants. The propel direction switch and speed settings are easy to reach due to improved operator ergonomics.

The machine has extremely low noise levels of between 67.4 dBA and 68.3 dBA. It comes standard with two down-pressure settings and four water-flow settings, with a front-fill port. Depending on the scrubber system set-up, the T500e can cover distances of between 1 911m2/h and 2 389m2/h, with an average scrubbing speed of 4km per hour.

Parts, service and maintenance plans are available exclusively through GCE. For more information visit: www.goscorcleaning.co.za

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