INCLEAN November-December 2022

INCLEAN is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd on behalf of ISSA – The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association.

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After almost three years, the highly anticipated ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo finally made its return to Sydney in September.

The two-day event, held at the ICC in Sydney’s Darling Harbour, reported a 25 per cent increase in ISSA Cleaning and Hygiene Expo attendees.

This year’s event also reported the largest overseas attendee representation with more than 20 countries represented, including France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, New Zealand, United Kingdom, USA, and more.

Education sharing was also a strong theme throughout this year’s show. The speaker theatre showcased more than 40 industry thought leaders sharing their expertise and knowledge across a variety of industry topics.

Read our wrap-up of the event in our exclusive coverage from page 22.

Innovation was also celebrated at the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo, with the winners of this year’s INCLEAN Excellence Awards announced during the event.

The awards seek to distinguish and showcase innovative and progressive products and services within the cleaning industry.

Read about the innovative products and services that took out the top spots in their respective categories from page 26.

Also in this issue, we examine how businesses are elevating the commercial restroom experience and how facility managers and cleaning contractors are protecting residents in aged care facilities.

Finally, we would like to wish all our valued readers and contributors a happy holiday season!

We would also like to thank you for your ongoing support and look forward to bringing you the latest industry news in 2023.

If you have a news story that you would like us to cover, please get in touch at info@incleanmag.com.au

Happy

reading,

Claire Hibbit Managing Editor

The Intermedia Group takes its corporate and social responsibilities seriously and is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. We continuously strive to improve our environmental performance and to initiate additional CSR based projects and activities.

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PEFC certified wood and paper products come from environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests.

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What’s on

2022

Interclean China

23-24 November 2022

The international trade show will be staged in Hangzhou www.intercleanshow.com/china

2023

The

Cleaning Show

14-16 March 2023

The longest running dedicated event for the UK cleaning industry www.cleaningshow.co.uk/london

ISSA Pulire – The Smart Show

9-11 May 2023

The largest professional cleaning and sanitisation industry trade show in Italy www.issapulire.com/en

ISSA Show Canada

14-15 June 2023

Canada’s leading trade show and conference www.issa.com

CMS Berlin

19-22 September 2023

The international conference and trade show will be held in Berlin www.cms-berlin.de

ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo

1-2 November 2023

The ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo will take place in Melbourne www.issacleaninghygieneexpo.com

ISSA Show North America

13-16 November 2023

Vegas to play host to 2023 ISSA North America www.issa.com

2024

Interclean Amsterdam

14- 17 May 2024

The world’s leading trade show for cleaning and hygiene professionals www.intercleanshow.com/amsterdam

MOST CLICKED

www.incleanmag.com.au

City of Melbourne calls on facility managers to help achieve net zero goals

City urges FMs, building owners, and industry associates to reduce their carbon emissions.

Australian record for worker back-payments

Ombudsman recovers more than $532 million for 384,805 underpaid workers in 2021-22 – a record sum of backpaid wages.

ServiceFM opens new

in Brisbane

office

New offices to be hub for ServiceFM’s administrative operations in Queensland.

New hygiene and health survey identifies largest threats to future of wellbeing

Poor hygiene standards in public spaces among top concerns, study finds.

BSCAA, SCCA update shopping centre code

Shopping Centre Council and BSCAA update jointly agreed code of conduct for cleaning staff.

New study reveals many Aussies don’t always wash hands

Nearly one in five Aussies admit they don’t always wash their hands after going to the toilet.

ON THE COVER

Ultra-light, powerful, and battery powered, the BVL 5/1 Bp backpack vacuum cleaner from leading global brand Kärcher, is proving to be a real winner in the cleaning industry.

CROSSFIRE

“It just mows down dirt, grease and grime”

At Research Products we really know hard floors. Since 1982 we’ve been designing, developing, testing, and marketing innovative products for the hard floor cleaning and maintenance industry.

Hospitals, schools, large stadiums, gyms and pools, factories, industrial work sites and construction sites all require specialised cleaning solutions to ensure clean floor surfaces and to provide a safe and hygienic environment.

Whatever the cleaning, maintenance, or specialty hard floor requirement, you can be assured Research Products have the right product for the job. Water-based degreasers use surfactants to emulsify greasy build up and contain penetrating agents that accelerates the speed of degreasing.

Crossfire has multi-purpose applications and, hence it reduces your inventory cost. CROSSFIRE is a balanced formulation, developed for food areas to banish the need for flammable solvent-based cleaners and pungent smelling degreasers and strippers in the commercial and industrial field.

Its medium suds formula and high performance make it ideal for pressure washers, steam cleaners and automatic scrubbers. Just dilute to the strength you require, a real cleaning kit all in one.

Research Crossfire is ideal for use as a spray-on & wipe-off cleaning of greasy surfaces. It also cleans carbon-based soils like soot, smoke, and burnt-on food residues. Timber & vinyl floors, painted walls, marble, concrete, all comes up

“squeaky clean” when mopped or scrubbed with Research Crossfire.

Recently Crossfire was used on a job which, I would say, in the extreme end of the scale. The site was an apartment in one of the social housing complexes in Melbourne. You can see the initial condition in the kitchen in below images. This was what the contractor witnessed when he first step into the site.

Condition before cleaning with Crossfire

Luke Ireland, who is the owner of All Rounders Cleaning & Maintenance Pty Ltd (www.allrounders.net.au) was tasked with the above job. All Rounders Cleaning & Maintenance Pty Ltd has been in the business for 20 years and has been doing many industrial cleaning jobs. This is his testimonial for Research Crossfire.

“Our business has been running for over 20 years, throughout the years we have used many industrial cleaning chemicals. Some which work well and some which simply doesn't work. We have recently used your Research Crossfire with outstanding results in the toughest environments which we perform our work.

We have managed to save our time and our clients time by using Research Crossfire because it simply just works straight away with amazing results.

We usually spray and let it settle for a good 5 minutes and simply wipe away the grime, grease, food waste and anything you think won't come off... but it simply breaks down and wipes away clean. It worked amazing for social housing floors where most of the flooring is vinyl and is cleans the stickiness away which has been built over the years.

I cannot believe how well Research Crossfire works and I believe my search for amazing chemicals is over. I am a Research Products fan now and will be for years to come.

Let me know if you would like me to try any innovations or current products you may have, I'll be happy to provide you before and after photos, like the ones I have sent you, or simply have a chat regarding my experience.

Thank you for creating great amazing products and wish you all the success in the future.”

This was the appearance after cleaning with Crossfire

The City of Melbourne is urging facility managers, building owners, tenants, industry associates, and governments to transform and retrofit buildings in the CBD to reduce their carbon emissions and propel the municipality towards the ambitious goal of net zero emissions by 2040.

To reach the milestone, almost 80 Melbourne buildings each year would need major upgrades and refurbishments to improve energy performance – a significantly higher rate currently being delivered by the market.

Commercial buildings are understood to be responsible for 60 per cent of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, while residential towers account for six per cent of emissions.

“We cannot meet our emissions reduction targets without upgrading our city’s buildings to improve energy efficiency and sustainability. The City of Melbourne can play a key role in supporting this critical work,” said Elizabeth Mary Doidge, Sustainable Building portfolio lead councillor.

To help accelerate the current retrofit rate, council has released a Zero Carbon Buildings for Melbourne discussion paper – outlining potential initiatives the City of Melbourne and partners could implement to support the transition of city buildings to net zero emissions.

The paper proposes seven key initiatives:

• Developing zero carbon building leases – agreement between landlords and tenants to ensure the ongoing use

and operation of zero carbon buildings

• Establishing a carbon risk tool – understanding the future risk of carbon for mid and low-tier buildings

• Incentivising periodic commercial building disclosure – a program to encourage periodic reporting of a building’s NABERS rating

• Promoting joint procurement – supporting lower grade and ungraded buildings to increase capacity to carry out deep retrofits jointly

• Convening zero carbon building retrofit teams – to create a more collaborative, relational way of working

• Incentivising building performance through rates – using rates to encourage emissions reduction

• Introducing an emissions cap through local law –establishing an emissions ceiling for buildings.

The recommended initiatives were informed by local and international case studies and developed through detailed interviews with more than 70 industry stakeholders.

Industry stakeholders, academics and community members are encouraged to have their say on the discussion paper via Participate Melbourne.

Feedback will inform the development of the City of Melbourne’s Zero Carbon Building Implementation Plan to be delivered in mid-2023.

City of Melbourne calls on facility managers to help achieve net zero goals

RapidClean showcases new products at ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo

The Rapid Group unveiled several new products at the recent ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo in Sydney.

According to Bruce Lees, general manager of the Rapid Group, the event was the “perfect opportunity” for the group to showcase its latest products to the industry.

New products included the RapidClean Contract Pro backpack vacuum and the RapidClean Glide 300 canister vacuum, both developed in collaboration with worldwide leaders in vacuum technology, Pacvac.

RapidClean has also expanded its chemical range to include 10 new solutions. The chemicals were displayed on the booth and featured RapidClean’s new label design, intended to ensure customers can identify the products they require with ease.

The extended range includes chemicals for all cleaning needs and has solutions for window and glass, disinfecting, stainless steel, acid cleaning, hand and surface sanitising, industrial hand cleaner, premium laundry powders and an extremely effective wet and forget, mould and moss cleaner.

The Rapid Group also revealed the prototype of the battery driven RapidClean RC1 scrubber. According to RapidClean, the RC1 is built tough to give professional cleaners reliability of

performance and minimal downtime. The launch is coming soon and will be available from the 71 RapidClean stores throughout Australia and New Zealand.

“We are genuinely proud of these additions to our product range, and we will continue to strive to meet all of our customers’ cleaning supply needs,” Lees said.

BSCAA, SCCA update shopping centre code

Shopping centre owners and building service contractors have updated and expanded the sectors’ Code of Conduct for Fair Service Provision (Code of Conduct) 10 years on from its inception.

The Shopping Centre Council of Australia (SCCA) and Building Service Contractors Association of Australia (BSCAA) agreed to update their jointly agreed code of conduct, reflecting new and emerging industry practices, government regulations, along with issues in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shopping centre owners and managers are responsible for the cleanliness and hygiene of their assets, which are governed by government and regulatory requirements and customer expectations. Cleaning requirements are tailored to individual centres.

The code reaffirms the shopping centre sector’s commitment to high standards of corporate responsibility and an expectation that cleaning service providers will treat their employees and contractors fairly, with respect and dignity, and abide by applicable awards, standards, and laws.

Angus Nardi, executive director, SCCA, said during COVID, the shopping centre sector had close engagement with public health officials, including Chief Health Officers (CHOs), and strict cleaning and disinfecting protocols in place including for common areas, food courts, and children’ rides.

“The updated code consolidates and reflects updated industry practices and government regulation and reiterates our ongoing commitment and mutual accountability to support the wellbeing and fair treatment of cleaners.”

Kim Puxty, CEO of BSCAA, said the code provides an important framework for discussions between shopping centre landlords and contract cleaning companies.

“The desired outcome from the code of conduct is that SCCA members can be confident of getting best practice compliance standards in cleaning services. Equally BSCAA members can be confident that the financial setting in the tenders will support those best practice compliance standards,” said Puxty.

A Code Administration Committee (CAC) will monitor the effectiveness of the code of conduct.The CAC will be a forum to monitor feedback, considering relevant issues and continual improvement of the operation of the code, including through the SCCA and BSCAA boards if required.

Sustainability leaders share insights at Accord workshop

Sustainability experts gathered to share insights at Accord’s Packaging Challenge Workshop: Towards packaging waste circularity solutions for the cleaning and hygiene industry, held during the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo.

The half-day event included an expert line-up of speakers, with learnings applicable to those companies well on their way in their packaging sustainability journey through to those just starting out.

Jennifer Semple, sustainability and education programs manager at Accord, presented on the results of Accord’s extensive data collection on the industry’s packaging use and practices, highlighting there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution to packaging waste management, and the importance of industry consultation and collaboration on stewardship initiatives.

Peter Tamblyn, director at the Australian Council of Recycling, spoke to the dramatic changes that have taken place in the packaging and recycling landscape in such a short time, and the important role of business in transitioning to a circular economy.

James Wiltshire, Dow Australia & New Zealand’s technology and sustainability leader, provided a case study on the value of plastic as a resource and designing for recyclability and circular economy.

John O’Donnell, technical manager at Albright & Wilson Australia, with a further case study on Alright & Wilson’s reuse of containers for industrial chemicals and the company’s strategy for meeting the 2025 National Packaging Targets.

Ashleigh Gay, head of sustainability leadership and communications at Edge Environment, demonstrated how businesses should (and shouldn’t) communicate their sustainability credentials.

Accord’s executive director, Bronwyn Capanna, was also involved in a panel discussion during the event on how COVID-19 has shone the light on supply chains and procurement.

Capanna highlighted the key challenges businesses continue to face, such as ongoing supply chain management and procurement issues, while applauding the responsiveness and resilience of the cleaning products industry during the pandemic.

“A big thank you to all of our speakers and to the attendees who made the workshop such a success, and to ISSA for the opportunity to partner with the expo. And a special thank you to our workshop sponsor, True Blue Chemicals,” said Capanna.

ACCC sets focus to ‘greenwashing’

Businesses need to be ready to substantiate any environmental or sustainability claims when marketing their goods and services, according to ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard.

Speaking recently at the SMH Sustainability Summit, Rickard said the ACCC is actively targeting ‘greenwashing’ warning businesses who make false or misleading claims undermine consumer trust and confidence in the market.

“It is important that businesses can back up the claims they are making, whether through reliable scientific reports, transparent supply chain information, reputable third-party certification, or other forms of evidence. Where we have concerns, we will be asking businesses to substantiate their claims,” Rickard said.

“The ACCC won’t hesitate to take enforcement action where we see that consumers are being misled or deceived by green claims.”

Rickard said making sustainability work for business and consumers requires a multi-pronged approach.

“Through the consumer law, the ACCC plays a part in this by ensuring that businesses tell the truth, but there will also be roles for standards bodies, certification schemes, industry and governments via policy reform,” Rickard said.

“The ACCC is actively monitoring green claims in the market and will be considering what steps can be taken to improve their integrity. This will include engaging with industry and producing guidance for businesses.”

Rickard said improving the veracity of environmental claims protects consumers and ensures competitive conduct in the market.

“Many businesses go to extraordinary lengths to make their processes, products and services more sustainable. This innovation and investment should be protected from unscrupulous behaviour of other businesses making green claims without incurring the same costs. This can have a chilling effect on investment in this space, as businesses are not able to

ServiceFM opens new office in Brisbane

ServiceFM has established a firmer presence in the Brisbane business district with a move to Milton on the city’s fringes.

The offices, located in the Coronation Drive South Tower, will be the hub for ServiceFM’s administrative operations in Queensland.

The move sees the facility management company improve its footprint in the Sunshine State.

“We see Brisbane as an integral pillar to our company’s ongoing expansion on the nation’s eastern seaboard,” ServiceFM managing director James Pollock said.

“Having our business operations in a location more suited to working with our city-based clients makes complete sense and embraces our belief that office occupancy is still a part of any major business’ plans.”

ServiceFM has been providing facility management services in Queensland for nearly two decades.

The company offers a range of services for business, including asset management, corporate cleaning, electrical compliance, and security.

realise the full benefits of making environmental improvements,” Rickard said.

Rickard acknowledged those businesses transitioning to more sustainable practices, recognising their right to promote the steps they are taking as part of that journey.

“A business’s sustainability transition doesn’t happen overnight – it’s a long process up and down the supply chain,” Rickard said.

“While businesses may look to use short and snappy slogans and claims, rather than lengthy explanations of measures underway, it is important to convey accurate information to consumers. Businesses in these positions need to be careful to not overstate the status of their transition through the claims they make.”

Some of the Queensland sites ServiceFM supports are Iglu Student Accommodation, Urban Utilities, TPG Vodafone, and government buildings.

ServiceFM’s new Brisbane office is located at Level 4, South Tower, 339 Coronation Drive, Milton (4064).

Ultra-light battery-operated backpack vacuum BVL 5/1 BP from Kärcher

Ultra-light, powerful and batterypowered, the BVL 5/1 Bp backpack vacuum cleaner from leading global brand Kärcher, is proving to be a real winner in the cleaning industry.

The lightest in its class weighing in at less than 4.7 kg, the BVL 5/1 Bp is made from an innovative, fully recyclable expanded polypropylene material which is extremely robust and durable.

Voted winner of the Visitors’ Choice award in this year’s Amsterdam Innovation Awards, it’s clear to see that this backpack vacuum offers great appeal for the cleaning industry.

Vicky Karamboulis from Jim’s Cleaning was one of the first in Australia to put the awardwinning vacuum through its paces.

“It’s really lightweight, durable and comfortable; and I’m really impressed with the power this vac has” she says.

Featuring an eco!efficiency mode, the backpack vacuum is well suited for cleaning areas where noise is an issue. eco!efficiency mode will reduce operating noise by 40 per cent as well as reducing power consumption by 54%; an example of Kärcher’s ongoing commitment to sustainability through product design and engineering.

Whether in a cinema, on a plane, on buses, trains, or office cleaning; the high suction, battery-operated BVL 5/1 Bp backpack vacuum cleaner plays its advantages to the full when cleaning in confined spaces.

“The freedom of cleaning with battery-power means we can clean safely anywhere, without restrictions,” says Vicky.

The powerful Kärcher Battery Power+ lithium battery comes in 7.5Ah or 6.0Ah and has a run time up to 64 minutes. It features innovative Real Time Technology that displays the remaining run time in minutes on the LCD screen.

When placed in the charging dock, the LCD screen will display how long it will take to achieve a full charge. This important piece of innovation ensures users will never need to estimate how long the battery will last, allowing the user to complete the task every time.

IPX5 rated, the Kärcher Battery Power+ batteries are splash and dust proof with a high quality ‘soft feel’ shockproof housing, making them extra durable.

An efficient temperature management system assists in avoiding overheating or temperaturerelated shutdowns, which also protects the lifetime of the battery.

Hamish Matheson, Region President Kärcher Oceania, is extremely proud of the latest addition to the Kärcher vacuum range.

“The end user is at the forefront of all Kärcher product development and innovation. Products like this one really showcase our expertise and demonstrate why we are the global leader in cleaning equipment.”

Vicky Karamboulis from Jim’s Cleaning has no hesitation recommending the backpack vacuum.

“It ticks all the boxes for me; powerful, lightweight, durable and battery-operated”.

The BVL 5/1 Bp is part of Kärcher’s 36V Battery Power+ range which includes a Tub Vacuum Cleaner, Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaner, Spray Extractor, Carpet Sweeper, Scrubber Dryer, HighPressure Cleaner and Leaf Blower.

The range is made for professional cleaning and ensures users experience endless compatibility, performance and safety in commercial cleaning.

The absence of cords not only removes any restriction in movement, but also guarantees a user’s cleaning performance is not compromised as nowhere is out of bounds. ■

“

The end user is at the forefront of all Kärcher product development and innovation. Products like this one really showcase our expertise and demonstrate why we are the global leader in cleaning equipment. ” - Hamish Matheson, Region President Kärcher Oceania

Australian record for worker back-payments

The Fair Work Ombudsman recovered more than $532 million for 384,805 underpaid workers in 2021-22 – a record sum of back-paid wages and entitlements for a record number of employees.

The recoveries, detailed in the workplace regulator’s latest Annual Report, are three times higher than the previous record recoveries in 2020-21, and more than quadruple that achieved in 2019-20.

More than half of the year’s recoveries came from large corporate employers, who back-paid nearly $279 million to more than 267,000 employees. This was six times the amount returned from large corporates in the previous financial year.

Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said the agency’s work addressing underpayments in Australia’s large corporations had hit significant milestones in 2021-22.

“All employers must prioritise putting in place systems and getting the advice they need to ensure they are paying workers their lawful entitlements. Those who are doing the wrong thing, including large corporates, are being found out – and we don’t hesitate to take enforcement action where appropriate,” Parker said.

In total, there were 137 new litigations in 2021-22 – 80 per cent more than the year before. This is a record number of litigations for the FWO and the first time it has filed 100 litigations in a year.

In concluded cases, the agency secured about $2.7 million in court-ordered penalties, of which about $1.8 million were from matters involving exploited migrant workers.

The FWO entered into nine Enforceable Undertakings with businesses, recovering $56.4 million for workers through extensive investigations and complex calculations that uncovered the full extent of underpayments.

The workplace regulator also issued 2,345 Compliance Notices in 2021-22, with recoveries through these notices up 23 per cent in a year. Fair Work Inspectors also issued 492 Infringement Notices (total fines of $446,037).The agency resolved 18,622 workplace disputes between workers and employers in the financial year.

“Our priorities for 2022-23, in addition to ongoing pandemic recovery support, are fast food, restaurants and cafés, large corporates, the university sector, agriculture, sham contracting and contract cleaning. Anyone with concerns about their workplace rights or obligations should contact us for free advice and assistance,” Parker said.

Joséphine Edwall Björklund, senior vice president, communications at Essity, said the survey was conducted by Essity to raise awareness of the importance of hygiene and health and its link to wellbeing.

One of the surveyed areas was public spaces. When it comes to hygiene standards in public spaces, one in four say they feel comfortable about hygiene standards in public bathrooms and three in 10 in public transport.

Out of these, seniors feel the most uncomfortable about hygiene standards in public spaces, especially in public washrooms as only 13 per cent of people aged 66-80 years old claim to feel comfortable about hygiene standards in these venues.

A majority also expressed higher expectations on the hygiene standards in public bathrooms after COVID-19. Furthermore, there are higher demands on the cleanliness, accessibility and smart solutions such as connected washroom devices.

New hygiene and health survey identifies wellbeing concerns

Poor hygiene standards in public spaces and overall worry for global health threats are just some of the barriers to wellbeing identified in the Global Hygiene and Health Survey 2022 conducted by Essity.

The findings are based on responses from more than 15,000 people world-wide with the aim to find healthier solutions for future generations. The Global Hygiene and Health Survey 2022 focuses on the future of wellbeing as well as the knowledge gap around issues of hygiene and health.

Improving hygiene standards in public places may also have other positive effects. According to the study, 38 per cent of the respondents say that improvement of hygiene standards in public spaces would make the biggest difference in helping to stop the spread of bacteria resistance to antibiotics.

In fact, the worry about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has increased since 2019 when 46 per cent expressed concern. Today, more than half of the respondents (54 per cent) are concerned of AMR as a threat to public health where they live.

This can be compared to pandemic outbreaks, which 63 per cent are worried about, a slight decrease since 2020 (70 per cent), but still higher than prior to the outbreak of Covid-19 when only 43 per cent experienced this as threat to public health.

Central Cleaning Supplies donates to flood clean-up efforts

Central Cleaning Supplies has donated essential supplies to help affected local residents and businesses following major flooding from Victoria’s Maribyrnong River.

Along with support from Melbourne-based Agar Cleaning Systems, Central Cleaning Supplies donated products including disinfectant chemicals, cleaning wipes, disinfecting surface wipes, and sanitisers.

“Answering a request for donations to assist with people affected by the flooding from the Maribyrnong River, Central Cleaning Supplies was only too happy to help,” said Joe Camilleri, managing director of Central Cleaning Supplies.

“We dispatched cleaning products from our head office and distribution centre in West Footscray as a donation to flood affected residents and local businesses.”

Central Cleaning Supplies’ General Manager, Rene Pamount; Central’s Compliance and HR Manager, Campbell Sanders; and one of Central’s truck drivers, Victor Lopez, helped deliver the cleaning packages.

“It was wonderful to meet the residents, their resilience and appreciation for our donation was exceptionally rewarding for us,” Pamount said.

“We hope our donation will help make the clean-up safer and easier for those areas and local communities that have been affected,” said Camilleri.

Central Cleaning Supplies, one of the largest distributors of cleaning materials, chemicals, and equipment, and provides an extensive range of products and services for the professional, commercial, industrial and domestic cleaning industries.

More single-use plastics banned in NSW

Additional single-use plastic items have been banned in New South Wales as communities and businesses embrace a massive shift away from problematic plastics.

Single-use items now banned include plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls and cotton buds, food ware and cups made from expanded polystyrene, and rinse-off personal care products containing plastic microbeads

Minister for Environment James Griffin said the move is an important step to protect the environment and create a more sustainable future for generations to come.

“We started this journey in 2020, when we received 16,000 submissions in response to the proposed plastics ban, with 98 per cent of them supporting the bans.”

Single-use plastic items and packaging make up 60 per cent of all litter in NSW, and the single-use plastic bans will prevent almost 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering the environment in the state over the next 20 years.

The NSW Government has partnered with Great Plastic Rescue to collect excess stock from wholesalers, distributors,

retailers, businesses and not-for-profits for recycling and remanufacturing into new items.

Ongoing education and support will continue to ensure businesses and consumers understand what’s banned and what’s not, including exemptions that allow the supply of some items for people with disabilities or for medical reasons.

Motorscrubber Australia SHOCKS with new products at ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo

Motorscrubber Australia has officially announced itself as a major player in the compact and detail cleaning sector following a highly successful trade show at the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo in Sydney, according to Lucas Paris, managing director of Motorscrubber Australia.

Paris said the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo was the best opportunity for distributors and clients to see everything Motorscrubber has to offer since its local launch in September 2021.

“Our first show smashed expectation, we knew we had a lot to offer the industry as a standalone subsidiary, but to be honest we were a little surprised as to how quickly the market has embraced the brand, the new model, and the complete range of products”

According to Paris, the Motorscrubber SHOCK, which is set to be released early 2023, attracted a lot of interest from many show attendees over the two days.

“SHOCK’s unique design, market leading cleaning performance, and ability to be integrated into regular cleaning regimes already using the DMT or Jet3 systems, visitors were

blown away with the machine’s look, ease of use, and most of all – performance.

“Motorscrubber’s BLADE flat mopping system was also a tremendous success at the show. The BLADE flat mop system to be used in our DMT cleaning process gives users the ability to deep clean, maintain, and transform every corner of the required areas.”

Expo extravaganza

The much-anticipated ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo made its return to the market, drawing record numbers of attendees and exhibitors alike.

Held at the International Convention Centre, (ICC) in Sydney over two days 14-15 September 2022 the show reported a 25 per cent increase in ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo attendees.

“We heard from many visitors and exhibitors that ‘this was the best show to date’ and the momentum for this event was high from the start,” said Lauren Micallef, ISSA Oceania manager.

“Our pre-registration numbers were up 58 per cent against our last expo, with many members commenting on the ‘buzz’ they were hearing throughout the industry.”

This year saw the largest overseas attendee representation with people travelling from more than 20 countries, including France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, New Zealand, United Kingdom, USA, and more.

“It was also exciting to see the growth in attendees from across all states and territories in Australia. All making the trip to be part of the only show in Australia dedicated to the cleaning and hygiene industry.”

Gareth Marriott, managing director, OCS Australia and New Zealand, said it was great to see the industry come together again.

“There was so much positive feedback after being in lockdown for such a long period of time,” said Marriott.

Craig Dowell, director of sales and marketing, ABCO Products, said the industry has “been really needing this expo.”

“Needing to see the latest innovations, the face-to-face contact and technical advice on products that will empower not only the cleaners and companies but also the community.”

INNOVATION ON SHOW

With almost 40 per cent of visitors stating that their primary reason for attending the show was to expand business networks and meet new

Industry reunites at long awaited ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo

suppliers, the expo did not fail to deliver with more than 88 of the country’s leading exhibitors, the largest number to date, present on the show floor.

“We had a lot of people approaching our stand. New customers and people we hadn’t seen before,” said Nora Potter, founder, Ecofy.

This was supported by Kristine Collins, product manager, SEBO who said the company “saw good numbers come through and quality leads.”

Stuart Nicol, ISSA Advisory Council Chair, said it was terrific to see the continual support that the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo is receiving and that the industry is getting behind the show.

“We saw returning exhibitors, as well as a number of companies that hadn’t exhibited for a long time, not to mention new players.”

First time exhibitor, Ben Antecki, brand manager, ACCO Brands, said the team was highly impressed by the event.

“This was our first ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo that we had exhibited at and sponsored, and we were highly impressed with the event, from the organisation and promotion to the environment on the show floor and the number of attendees we had visiting our stand.”

Micallef said the environment was energised by the efforts of the speakers, workshops, attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors many

of whom had taken up bigger and grander stands, had interactive product demonstrations and as well as new product launches.

“We had great responses to the new products that we launched, and our stand was very busy for the whole show,” said Bruce Lees, general manager ANZ, Rapid Group.

This year companies also took the opportunity to bring their team’s and run events either side of the expo to maximise their experience.

“RapidClean held our annual conference in conjunction with the ISSA show as this enabled our store owners, throughout Australia and New Zealand, to attend the workshops and see the new and innovative products being exhibited. They then take the knowledge that they gained back to their customers,” said Lees.

INDUSTRY LEADERS SHARE INSIGHTS

Education sharing was a strong theme this year.

The speaker theatre showcased more than 40 industry thought leaders sharing their expertise and knowledge across a variety of industry topics. The theatre had a continual stream of people with most sessions having between 70-100 per cent attendance.

Former Sydney Swans AFL star Michael O’Loughlin kicked off this year’s education program, discussing his journey from AFL to the building services industry.

“

We heard from many visitors and exhibitors that ‘this was the best show to date’ and the momentum for this event was high from the start.

”

Lauren Micallef, ISSA Oceania Manager

O’Loughlin, who is managing director of ARA Indigenous Services, is also an advocate and mentor in the Indigenous community.

“Our speaker session with Michael O’Loughlin drew in a large crowd with the audience wanting to uncover more information about what to look for and why to invest in indigenous services.”

Adam Mercer, Director- Business Development, ARA Indigenous Services.

During the program’s first panel session, Tim Edmonson, managing director of Edco Cleaning Products and Oliver Lazarevic, CEO of Supply Clusters, discussed how their businesses

adapted during COVID and shared learnings since the pandemic.

“It’s not so much that the rule book has been thrown out the window [since COVID], the game is still the same, it just feels like there is twice as many opponents, the field size has changed, and even the referee is against you,” said Edmonson.

“It’s a matter of using the experience you have, relying on the knowledge developed over the years, and assessing each situation individually, and then making the best decision you can. Don’t be afraid to change course if that first decision isn’t working. Always be willing to review what you have done.”

Edmonson and Lazarevic also discussed the importance of building and maintaining supplier relationships.

“Having deep relationships with your key partners is absolutely critical because during tough times they are the ones that you lean on,” said Lazarevic.

During a panel discussion on social sustainability, Marriott, spoke of the importance of company culture.

“In this industry, your people are your biggest asset. If you get the people element right, you will be a successful organisation. If you don’t have the right culture within your organisation, you won’t be able to entice or encourage the next generation,” said Marriott.

Another highlight was the program’s innovation panel, where delegates

“This was our first ISSA Cleaning and Hygiene Expo that we had exhibited at and sponsored, and we were highly impressed with the event, from the organisation and promotion to the environment on the show floor and the number of attendees we had visiting our stand” – Ben Antecki, Brand Manager, ACCO Brands

“I think the industry has been really needing this expo. Needing to see the latest innovations, the face-to-face contact and technical advice on products that will empower not only the cleaners and companies but also the community” – Craig Dowell, Director of Sales & Marketing, ABCO Products

“We had a lot of people approaching our stand. New customers and people we hadn’t seen before” Nora Potter, Founder, Ecofy

“We were really pleased with this year’s show. The marketing leading up had been fantastic. We saw good numbers come through and quality leads” – Kristine Collins, Product Manager, SEBO

“Our speaker session with Michael O’Loughlin drew in a large crowd with the audience wanting to uncover more information about what to look for and why to invest in indigenous services” – Adam Mercer, Director- Business Development, ARA Indigenous Services

“I brought team members with me from interstate to attend the show. It was an opportunity for them to uncover the latest products and trends in the market, which we could take back to our business” – Matt Marsh, Managing Director, Sebastian Group

“We had great responses to the new products that we launched, and our stand was very busy for the whole show” – Bruce Lees, General Manager ANZ, Rapid Group

“This was the best show by far! If you didn’t make it to the ISSA Cleaning and Hygiene Expo this year, we are sorry you missed out, but we hope to see you next year” – Dr Greg Whiteley, Executive Chairman, Whiteley Corporation

discussed emerging technologies in the cleaning industry.

“Artificial intelligence, robotics, and evidence-based cleaning are the next trends that we as an industry are only at the start of,” said Mark Phelan, commercial director, Fruendenberg Home & Cleaning Solutions.

Thomas Culver, founder, The Robot Factory, said the industry needs to embrace robotics.

“It’s not true that the robots are coming, they are already here,” said Culver.

More broadly, the education program ensured visitors from all areas of the cleaning and hygiene industry received practical advice from industry experts.

Other popular topics included tips on how to create a successful tenders and quotes, the importance of collaboration between facility managers and contractors, as well as health and safety topics including the risks of working with chemicals.

Alongside the speaker theatre the event ran four workshops ‘LinkedIn: boost your brand awareness’, ‘differentiate and elevate your business in a hyper intensive market’, ‘the packaging challenge workshop’ and ‘GBAC risk management approach’. All sessions were well attended and received highly positive feedback.

“I brought team members with me from interstate to attend the show,’

said Matt Marsh, managing director, Sebastian Group.

“It was an opportunity for them to uncover the latest products and trends in the market, which we could take back to our business. They also registered for key workshops throughout the two days which they found to be highly informative and beneficial.”

The highly anticipated 2022 INCLEAN Excellence Awards were announced following the conclusion of the first day.

This year the awards received a record number of entries across six innovation categories including Large Equipment, Small Equipment, Services & Technology, Chemical Agents, Paper and Dispensing and Janitorial Items.

“It was outstanding to see the number of entrants and products on offer and it clearly demonstrates a passionate industry moving forward,” said Micallef.

Day two concluded with networking drinks hosted by ISSA.

“This was the best show by far! If you didn’t make it to the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo this year, we are sorry you missed out, but we hope to see you next year!” commented Greg Whiteley, Executive Chairman, Whiteley Corp. ■ The ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo will return in 2023 to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on the 1st -2nd November 2023.

Excellence on show

INCLEAN Excellence awards prove industry innovation continues to thrive

Innovation was celebrated at the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo, with the winners of this year’s INCLEAN Excellence Awards announced at the highly anticipated two-day event in Sydney.

Held alongside this year’s ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo in Sydney, the awards seek to distinguish and showcase innovative and progressive products and services within the cleaning industry.

“The past 24 months have been challenging, but it hasn’t been a deterrent for the industry to innovate, and this was evident by the quality of winners and finalists,” says Lauren Micallef, ISSA Oceania Manager.

This year’s awards received a record number of nominations, with entries narrowed down to three finalists across six categories: Equipment (Small), Equipment (Large), Paper and Dispensing,

Cleaning Agents, Services and Technology, and Janitorial.

This year’s judging panel included Geoffrey Thorpe, Steven Kulper, and INCLEAN Australia and New Zealand managing editor, Claire Hibbit.

INNOVATION EQUIPMENT (LARGE)

The winner of this year’s highly coveted Innovation Equipment (Large) award was Gausium’s Scrubber 50 Pro.

“The INCLEAN Excellence Awards is one of the world’s most eminent awards in the cleaning industry and winning will definitely bring much recognition and brand awareness across the industry,” says Allen Zhang, chief of overseas business at Gausium.

The Scrubber 50 Pro is an AI-powered robotic floor scrubber. Deep learning algorithms are integrated within a sensor

fusion of 2D LiDAR, 3D and RGB cameras, which grant the robot high accuracy environmental perception and the ability to make advanced operation decisions according to the real-time situation. It also offers diversified path planning modes to deliver the highest degree of flexibility in cleaning plan customisation.

“Being a winner of the INCLEAN Excellence Awards is an extraordinary honour and privilege, and at the same time a strong motivator for further improvement. Winning such a prestigious award will help us gain additional credit for prospective customers, especially those in Oceania.

“We feel proud to develop a cleaning tool with such a positive impact for cleaners around the world and will continue to innovate toward empowering more people worldwide to work easier, smarter, and happier,” says Zhang.

Winners of the 2022 INCLEAN Excellence Awards

INNOVATION EQUIPMENT (SMALL)

Available from Cleanstar, the ERA PRO dry vacuum cleaner by SPRiNTUS took out the Innovation Equipment (Small) award.

The ERA PRO dry vacuum cleaner is the world’s first digital dry vacuum cleaner with integrated Bluetooth connection and a cloud-based fleet management system.

Garth Michalson, director of Cleanstar, says the award is first and foremost an acknowledgement that Cleanstar “is doing things right” in its efforts to keep bringing fresh innovations to an industry that is very vibrant with a lot of new technologies presently infiltrating.

“The INCLEAN Excellence Awards is a great platform for Cleanstar to showcase its latest and best innovations. We have been fortunate to have won this prestigious award before and the benefits to Cleanstar were profound.

“It is good to see that we are doing our part to ‘raise the bar’ which can only be to the betterment of our cleaning industry as a whole. It continues to cement our position of excellence as well as our relevance in the cleaning industry.

“Additionally, it keeps our customers ‘switched on’ to what we do, knowing that we never stand still, and are always out there looking for the next best thing which will help their businesses grow.”

INNOVATION PAPER & DISPENSING

Solaris Paper’s Jumbo Roll Toilet Tissue 2ply 250m was named winner of the Innovation Paper & Dispensing award.

This product is designed for improved user experience in high-traffic bathrooms with its thick and soft tissue that features a premium emboss, leaving a lasting impression on the discerning user.

It has also been designed to be a win for the environment, with the efficient jumbo size reducing the need for refilling, without sacrificing its quality perception. In addition, 100 per cent of all fibre in Sorbent Professional tissue products are responsibly and sustainably sourced with independent certification by PEFC and Sedex.

“Our team was chuffed to win as it’s been a tough few years,” explains Michelle Hood, commercial strategy and marketing manager, Solaris Paper, “but to receive independent positive affirmation has been very rewarding.

“Also, [winning the award] brings with it great publicity – the fact that it was presented in front of a couple of hundred of our customers and their customers was great. The awards are also promoted through INCLEAN and social channels. Our NZ team heard quite quickly thanks to the INCLEAN newsletter, which was great!”

The win also helps supports Solaris’ Paper marketing and brand promotion, according to Hood.

“We have also started using it as part of our sales pitch too as it is nice to have an independent view on our product.

“The hardest thing is writing the entry but if you believe in your product, then it should be easy. You have to be in it to win it! Even as a finalist you get extra publicity and products are placed in the Innovation Zone [at the Expo] which is also very valuable to us.”

INNOVATION CLEANING AGENTS

According to Dr Tony Peacock, chairman of Ten Carbon Chemistry, the INCLEAN Excellence Awards proved to be a successful platform for the company’s new Doxall range, which won the Innovation Cleaning Agents award.

Doxall, which is owned by Australian start-up, Ten Carbon Chemistry, a subsidiary of Wintermute Biomedical Inc, a US-based LLC and biomedical research organisation, is an all-in-one cleaner and sanitiser.

“We wanted to both let the cleaning and hygiene sector know about our new technology as well as learn from the sector. The ISSA Expo was a must attend event for us and the INCLEAN Excellence Awards was an added opportunity to test how the industry views a completely new cleaning agent,” explains Dr Peacock.

“

The ISSA Expo was a must attend event for us and the INCLEAN Excellence Awards was an added opportunity to test how the industry views a completely new cleaning agent.

”

Dr Tony Peacock, Ten Carbon Chemistry

He says the team is “humbled and thankful” for the award.

“This win means we will increase our work in the cleaning and hygiene sectors. We were immediately approached for white label opportunities, and we’ve had contact with small local manufacturers through to the giant multi-national hygiene companies. The spotlight from the INCLEAN Excellence Award is actually very intense and we’ve had a great reaction both at the expo and in the following weeks.”

For those considering entering next year’s awards, Dr Peacock’s advice is to not hesitate.

“We have received lot of attention from being shortlisted. The win was an added bonus. The ISSA Expo and INCLEAN magazine are the two places you want to be seen in this sector.

“The benefit for a young company like ours was huge, but the recognition from industry peers is valuable for any company. Innovation is the key to progress. That message that we used to clean for smell, and then for looks and now we have to clean for health is absolutely true. Clients are going to want assurance of a healthy clean and that gives scope for an enormous amount of innovation - these awards are a chance to show off what you’ve got.”

INNOVATION SERVICES & TECHNOLOGY

Hako’s innovative dust control system Dust Stop was named winner of the Innovation Services & Technology award.

When sweeping heavily soiled and dusty floors, it is almost impossible to avoid dust generation. Hako’s innovation sets into action exactly where dust is generated: at the side brushes of vacuum sweepers.

Designed as an elastic cover made of high-quality and ecofriendly Linatex, Dust Stop lies directly on the bristles of the side broom and stops the air-generating effect of the rotary motion. It can also be retrofitted easily, with no technical installation required and unlike other conventional dust control systems, Dust Stop doesn’t’ use water.

“The INCLEAN Excellent Awards was a fantastic opportunity for us to let people know about the Dust Stop and its benefits,” explains Alexandra Dominguez, Marketing Executive, Hako Australia.

“Winning the Innovation Services & Technology award means a lot to us. Our product development team works really hard to create the best cleaning equipment, solutions and applications for our customers.

“We definitely encourage other business to enter the INCLEAN Excellent Awards for next year! It is such a great opportunity to provide full information to those cleaning solutions that could be a game changer for their clients.”

INNOVATION JANITORIAL

Winner of this year’s Innovation Janitorial award was i-team ANZ’s i-matt.

The i-matt is a durable, clean-in-place, no-trip floor matting system that improves floor safety and ease of cleaning.

The i-matt uses highly absorbent material to grab water and disperse it quickly throughout the fibres in the mat, keeping floors dry and safe.

Steve Bagshaw, regional ambassador, i-team ANZ, says the Innovation Awards are a great way for the industry to recognise and have new and innovative products highlighted.

“Our entire product development focus is led by innovation, so it is rewarding to have this investment formally recognised.

“It also gives our i-partners another point of discussion with their clients.” ■

Congratulations to this year’s finalists and winners

Innovation Equipment (Large)

Finalists:

• T380AMR Robotic Floor Scrubber, Tennant Australia

• Wash Series, SEKO

• Scrubber 50 Pro, Gausium Winner: Scrubber 50 Pro, Gausium

Innovation Equipment (Small)

Finalists:

• SPRINTUS ERA PRO, Cleanstar

• BVL 5/1 Bp Backpack Vacuum, Karcher

• Orbot Slim, Abco Products Winner: ERA PRO, Cleanstar

Innovation Paper & Dispensing Finalists:

• Sorbent Professional TAD Interleave Hand Towel range, Solaris Paper

• Ecofy Foaming Hand Soap, Ecofy

• Sorbent Professional 25100 2ply Embossed Jumbo Roll Toilet Tissue 250 metres, Solaris Paper Winner: Jumbo Roll Toilet Tissue 2ply 250m, Solaris Paper

Innovation Cleaning Agents

Finalists:

• Aeris Defence, Aeris Environmental

• Doxall, Ten Carbon Chemistry

• Everis Next, Novozymes Australia Winner: Doxall, Ten Carbon Chemistry

Innovation Services & Technology Finalists:

• BubbleFlush, Wecoline, Ecofy

• Hako Dust Stop, Hako Australia

• SmartClean, Rubbermaid Commercial Products Winner: Hako Dust Stop, Hako Australia

Innovation Janitorial Finalists:

• Re-Belle 100% Circular Microfibre Cloth, Greenspeed, Ecofy

• r-MicroLife, Oates, Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions

• i-matt, i-team ANZ Winner: i-matt, i-team ANZ

CleanNZ Expo

The highly anticipated CleanNZ Expo returned to Auckland in October, offering opportunities for networking, education, and product discovery for New Zealand’s commercial cleaning industry.

Hosted by the Building Service Contractors Association of New Zealand (BSCNZ) and organised by Interpoint Events, CleanNZ Expo is New Zealand’s only dedicated trade show and conference for the commercial cleaning industry.

The free-to-attend event took place at the Ellerslie Events Centre on Tuesday 25 October and Wednesday 25 October, with more than 35 exhibitors showcasing best industry practice and cutting-edge innovation.

For the first time in almost three years, attendees came together in a face-to-face setting, and viewed the latest products and equipment, met directly with suppliers, learnt from industry experts, and networked with industry peers from across the country.

A look back at New Zealand’s premier trade event, CleanNZ Expo

The event also provided free education sessions for attendees, in partnership with registered training organisation Careerforce, with topics focused on the latest trends and solutions for cleaning, as well as employment law, health and safety, and indoor air quality.

Speakers included Sean Johnson, Restore Cleaning Restoration; Penny Barrett, Careerforce; Rebecca Mitchell, Solutions Partner, ACC; Callum McMillan, MBIE; Wendy Stephens, Sappho Creative Solutions; and Karen Kavanagh, Rentokil Initial. For the first time, St Johns also hosted two-hour health and safety training sessions for delegates across both days of the expo.

Sarah McBride, CEO of the BSCNZ said the aim of the event’s education sessions was to educate, motivate, and inspire success attendees and exhibitors alike.

“CleanNZ Expo has been more than three years in the making and it was great to be able to reconnect with everyone and bring building service contractors, business owners, facilities managers, and suppliers, all back together again.”

The BSCNZ also hosted its industry conference, Evolve, in conjunction with CleanNZ Expo. Hosted by media personality Kerre McIvor, the BSCNZ Evolve Industry Conference featured a host of high calibre speakers Sir Richard Hadlee; Sir Ian Taylor; Kirk Hope, CEO of BusinessNZ; and ANZ chief economist, Sharon Zollner.

“Inspiration went beyond industry related topics, with the event’s high-calibre speakers as well as local experts and thought leaders each bringing to the stage their own personal learnings and knowledge,” said McBride

Evolve also featured dual networking event for BSCNZ and Facilities Management Association of New Zealand (FMANZ) members, sponsored by Tork Professional Hygiene, following the conclusion of the first day of the conference.

“Without our generous sponsors the CleanNZ Expo and the BSCNZ Evolve Industry Conference would not be possible so a sincere since thank you to all, including our Gold Sponsors Auckland Unlimited, Karcher New Zealand; Silver Sponsors Bunzl, Kiwi Maintenance Group; and Mobil; and Bronze Sponsor Filta.

“Special thanks also to Essity for sponsoring the FMANZ networking event, and Qual Chem for sponsoring our keynote presentation from Sir Richard Hadlee. Without their support, this great industry event would not have been possible.”

CleanNZ and the Evolve conference concluded with a gala dinner held at Sky City at sponsored by NZ Cleaning Supplies. ■

“

The speakers exceeded expectations. Their content was educational, genuine, and honest.” - Sarah McBride, CEO, BSCNZ ”

Border patrol –

stopping the spread of foot-and-mouth disease

Words

Having witnessed first-hand the devastation that foot-andmouth disease (FMD) caused in the United Kingdom in 2001, infectious diseases expert Dr Gavin Macgregor-Skinner pulls no punches about what such an outbreak would mean for Australia.

“This would be such a devastating disease if it comes into Australia,” he says.

“It would close down communities. It would stop supply chains. It would affect the agricultural sector and the nonagricultural sector. Any compensation would never be enough.”

The threat has suddenly become very real. Since the first case of FMD was identified in Indonesia at the start of May, the virus has spread quickly, with hundreds of thousands of cases being reported, including in the tourism haven of Bali.

The crisis has triggered fears that FMD could spread to Australia via travellers and meat imports. Estimates suggest that an outbreak in Australia could cost the economy $80 billion over a 10-year period1.

Dr Macgregor-Skinner, director of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, is calling on governments,

citizens, and the cleaning and hygiene community to do their bit to combat the disease.

He also believes moves to clean and disinfect shoes at international airports in an attempt to stop the transmission of FMD into Australia should act as a prompt for similar disease-fighting measures in other parts of the community, including in hospitals and aged-care facilities.

“When we go into hospitals and examine drug-resistant bacteria such as MRSA, E. coli and flagella, we find that it walks around on shoes all over the place, but no one cleans their shoes in hospitals.”

Governments, travellers, facility managers, and cleaners all have a role to play in combatting foot-and-mouth disease and other viruses that threaten Australian exports and, health and food security.

Cameron Cooper

A NATIONAL THREAT

FMD is a highly contagious disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and pigs. Symptoms include painful lesions on the feet and in the mouth that may cause fever, drooling and prevent the animal from eating and drinking.

Most commonly found in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and South America, FMD has not been diagnosed in Australia since 1872. The greatest risk of it entering Australia stems from imported meat products and transmission from international travellers as they re-enter the country.

Associate Professor Greg Whiteley, executive chairman of Whiteley and a world-renowned expert on infection prevention and control, says while it could be possible to isolate FMD if it were detected in Australia’s livestock, he fears that transmission into the feral animal community would see cases spiral out of control.

“They’ll get sued and that will bring a whole pile of grief to them because they’ll probably fall over under the weight of a class action, especially if it’s one of the exotic viruses,” he says. “Their insurers will step up, but it will be hard to recover.”

To counter such a hazard, Dr Whiteley says cleaning and hygiene specialists should focus on:

• ensuring their systems and quality assurance practices are sound

• training their staff appropriately to deal with infection risks

• monitoring and measuring their sanitation performance and outcomes.

“Because if they’re not, they’re toast,” Dr Whiteley says.

FIGHTING BACK

While stating that Australia’s biosecurity system is one of the strictest in the world, Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt has conceded that there is “no biosecurity silver bullet” for FMD.

“Our biosecurity controls rely on a multi-layered approach to mitigate the risk of FMD,” Watt says in a media release.

Passengers arriving in Australia from Indonesia have been directed to clean their shoes using sanitation foot mats – which contain a citric acid solution – at airports and ports.

This would be such a devastating disease if it comes into Australia. It would close down communities. It would stop supply chains. It would affect the agricultural sector and the non-agricultural sector. Any compensation would never be enough.

In addition to any health threat, Dr Whiteley believes the spectre of FMD, COVID-19 and other infectious diseases poses possible legal consequences for Australian hospitals, healthcare facilities and cleaning companies if their facilities or workers were found to be the mechanism of transmission.

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Additional detector dogs have also been put to work in airports to stop people trying to bring pork or beef into the country. Other measures include passenger declarations, profiling of passengers entering from Indonesia, real-time risk assessments and questioning.

“If we’re really serious, we should be getting every shoe that comes in from Bali or Indonesia and disinfecting them,” Dr Whiteley says.

”“The virus is hard to kill. It’s not something that you can give a little bit of a spray and a squirt and away you go. This is a vigorous virus, and you need to step up the level of disinfection.”

He suggests that a sterilant such as peracetic acid could be used, as well as hydrogen peroxide or aldehydes.

“But you have to be careful with both hydrogen peroxide and all of the aldehydes because of health, safety and environmental issues.”

“

Fallout from the FMD outbreak in the UK just over two decades ago underlines the importance of being diligent. The disaster cost the economy about $13 billion and resulted in many millions of animals being destroyed and incinerated2. Many farmers also committed suicide after losing their livestock and livelihoods.

Working there at the time, Dr Macgregor-Skinner recalls that mass lockdowns in farming zones and the deployment of cleaning and disinfection teams came unstuck because of one oversight. After initially being baffled as to how FMD was spreading, infectious disease specialists did swabs of postal-service vehicles.

“We found the virus everywhere,” Dr Macgregor-Skinner says.

“Up to that point, we’d missed the postman.”

TEAM EFFORT

The lesson for Australia and other countries, according to Dr Macgregor-Skinner, is that it takes a whole-of-community response to combat serious diseases, whether it is FMD, COVID-19, or other viruses.

He notes that, aside from FMD, countries around the world are experiencing out-of-season outbreaks of diseases and illnesses that have confounded health experts.

This includes adenoviruses in Australia and the United States, respiratory syncytial viruses in various part of the world, and the highly publicised spread of the monkeypox virus that has now been found in about 65 countries.

Given such a scenario, Dr Whiteley says border control officers, health experts and cleaning and hygiene contractors must be on high alert as they potentially come into contact with FMD and other viruses. The focus should be on correctly donning and doffing PPE gear as part of what is called an aseptic technique that protects workers from contact with blood, body fluids and body tissue.

“If you muck that up, the stuff that’s on the outside suddenly ends up on your hands or on your shoes and you’ve become the mechanism by which transmission can occur,” he says.

Ultimately, Dr Whiteley says good disinfection and hygiene comes down to robust cleaning systems and methods.

“Of course, you need to use the right materials, but it’s really about the methods. If you get your methods wrong, you’ll make the situation worse.”

As part of their education, Dr Whiteley encourages cleaners and others to become familiar with the Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN), which outlines the nationally

agreed approach for the response to emergency animal disease incidents in Australia. It also advises on appropriate disinfectants that can be used for different cases.

Dr Whiteley also urges industry professionals to get GBAC STAR accreditation that provides third-party validation of a building service contractor’s cleaning, disinfection and infection prevention protocols and procedures.

PLAY IT SAFE

As Australia seeks to keep its borders free of FMD and other diseases, Dr Macgregor-Skinner hopes governments and other authorities will ramp up campaigns to educate travellers about food, products and equipment that they should not bring into the country.

This should include a call to action for them to clean shoes, camping equipment, bicycle wheels and other possible carriers of disease before they hit Australian soil.

“That message should be coming out every two weeks or so where we say, ‘Hey guys, here’s a quick reminder about how to clean the tyres on your mountain bike or whatever the case may be.”

Dr Macgregor-Skinner is frustrated that a lot of FMD fact sheets are being loaded on to federal and state government agricultural websites that are unlikely to be read by younger travellers. Instead, they should go on travel and tourism sites.

Likewise, he thinks travellers’ incoming passenger cards are largely irrelevant because most people are unlikely to make truthful declarations as they pass through border controls.

A better option would be to have biosecurity officers conduct inspections and ask specific questions of travellers before they enter the country.

“The incoming passenger card is a nice thing, but it’s useless,” he says.

“You’ve got to be more active and interactive than that. You have to talk to people and let them know that if they bring in FMD they are going to wipe out whole industries.” ■

1 https://minister.agriculture.gov.au/watt/media-releases/fmd-foot-mats 2 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-11/uk-fmd-outbreak-helping-australiaprotect-its-farrmers/101070438

https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/ livestock/animal-welfare/pests-diseases-disorders/foot-mouth https://gbac.issa.com/gbac-star-service-accreditation/

FMD is a highly contagious disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and pigs

“

This is a vigorous virus, and you need to step up the level of disinfection.

”

– Dr Greg Whiteley, Whiteley Corporation

Coming of age

In vulnerable aged care centres, the pressure is on facility managers and cleaning contractors to protect patients and residents from life-threatening infections.

Words Cameron Cooper

As infection-prevention expert Dr Greg Whiteley considers the plight of aged care facilities dealing with COVID-19 and deadly bugs, he laments that they cannot replicate one action that many hospitals are taking to combat the problem.

In the hope of minimising infections, hospitals are simply discharging patients much faster,

where possible. “But you can’t do that in aged care,” says Dr Whiteley, chairman of Whiteley, a manufacturer of sterilants, disinfectants and professional cleaning technologies.

“People are in those facilities and going through progressive levels of care and, in some cases, they could be there for years. If they catch one of these bugs, they can die quite quickly and unnecessarily.”

Dr Whiteley and his team are at the forefront of efforts to ensure that facilities such as aged care and retirement homes are healthy and hygienic.

Arguing that the fight to safeguard aged care residents is “moving at a glacial pace”, he also warns cleaning contractors to get their disinfection and hygiene systems right, or risk facing possible reputational and legal repercussions.

“Because with modern genetics you can track who got the bug first, where it went to on surfaces, who then touched it and who got the bug,” Dr Whiteley says.

In short, there is no place to hide if cleaning contractors do not do their job.

ADOPTING BEST PRACTICE

For facility managers and cleaners in the aged care space, there is a duty of care to ensure a high standard of hygiene, even with hard-to-clean areas and furnishings. Some suggested actions include: Target high-traffic touchpoints – wipe down and disinfect beds, door handles, light switches and other vulnerable touchpoints. Disinfect such surfaces regularly and also address high-traffic areas for staff.

Maintain good hand hygiene – this is essential before cleaning, after cleaning and whenever changing gloves, in particular. Hand washing is especially important.

Remove spills quickly – facilities and cleaners should have policies in place to deal rapidly with spills as they pose a high infection risk. After removing spills, disinfect the surface and rinse with water. Focus on floors – consider adopting microfibre cloth or steam-cleaning technology. With vacuuming, use high-quality HEPA filters to reduce the spread of bacteria.

The other big issue that will remain on the radar at aged care facilities is indoor air quality, with proper ventilation and filtration of buildings being crucial. This includes the need for high standards of carpet care, as well as heating, ventilation and airconditioning (HVAC) maintenance.

Steve Agar, joint managing director of Agar Cleaning Systems, believes the imperative to protect the elderly in aged care centres presents an opportunity for the development and deployment of innovative and adaptable chemicals that can really make a difference to health and hygiene outcomes.

He cites the example of U-Remove, which uses biologically active ingredients to digest and consume organic soilage and uric acid salts left by urine in fabrics and carpets. It can also remove odours caused by vomit, faeces and perspiration.

“It’s an environmentally preferable way to go, but it also removes the source of harmful bacteria growth and odour,” Agar says. “That’s an example of where there are some good developments in products that can help solve problems in aged care.”

Agar Cleaning Systems is a chemical formulator and manufacturer, with its range including regulatory approved products such as CounterFlu and peroxide-based Virattack (hospital-grade disinfectants that kill viruses, including COVID-19, germs and bacteria). Originally developed for other tasks, Agar says they have become “key weapons” against the coronavirus.

“CounterFlu was developed for the flu, but when the pandemic broke out it was the product that we thought would be most effective in dealing with COVID and, following successful test results, it subsequently got regulatory approval.”

One of the keys with the use of chemical agents in aged care facilities, according to Agar, is to limit the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can pose multiple health risks, especially to people with respiratory illnesses.

“You want products that don’t present unpleasant odours or chemical vapours,” he says. “Also, in aged care sites you’re dealing with unpleasant issues such as residents soiling the floors and carpets. So, cleaning products that can neutralise odours and clean effectively are important.”

Ultimately, cleaning products must be fit for purpose, including any green products.

“There are definitely applications in aged care where a product with green credentials will be satisfactory, whether it’s floor care, washroom care, heavy-duty cleaning and utility areas,” Agar says. “But the one area where green is challenging, if you’re looking for certified green products, is with disinfection.”

EDUCATION THE KEY

The Australian Department of Health and Aged Care reports that for the period from January 1, 2022, to August 12, 2022, COVID-19 was recorded as the cause of death in 7.3 per cent of all deaths among permanent residents in aged care facilities.

Since the beginning of the Omicron outbreak in late November 2021, there were 43,355 deaths in residential aged care from all causes, with COVID-19 deaths accounting for 6.5 per cent of this figure.

Lucas Paris, managing director – Australia of cleaning machine distributor Motorscrubber, says it is apparent that more rigour is required with cleaning in the aged care sector. If not, more tragedies and loss of life will occur.

“

It is crucial to strike a balance with chemical use – the goal is to minimise the volume of chemicals used while ensuring there is enough chemical action to get the job done. ”

“The light has been shone on the industry and it highlighted the fact that a lot of practices being used in aged care facilities were antiquated. People paid the ultimate price when it could have been avoided if there was greater education on cleaning processes and tools.”

Paris says poor management of air quality and touchpoints, as well as a failure to properly embrace masks and face shields, have been among the issues.

As a company that supplies floorcleaning equipment, Paris also hopes that the importance of clean and hygienic floors will become better understood in the future.

Motorscrubber is counting on products such as Blade (a rubber squeegee blade

that targets grout lines and tight edges) and the Storm disinfectant sprayer (for fast treatment of common touch points) to up the ante in aged care residences.

For Lucas, the imperative when cleaning aged care centres – or any other facilities for that matter – is following the right procedures and getting the right education.

“If you use an approved disinfectant that ticks all the boxes, it will kill everything,” he says. “But if the people using it aren’t giving it the right lag time on the surface, or if they’re not cleaning the surface beforehand, or if they’re using subpar cloths, all of these things will impact the ability of the site to stay safe.”

Agar agrees that understanding the difference between products and how

they should be used is critical.

“Otherwise, there’d just be the one cleaning product,” he says. “Different products are formulated to sometimes incompatible criteria, so we need to make sure that each product is applied where it’s supposed to be.”

He adds that it is crucial to strike a balance with chemical use – the goal is to minimise the volume of chemicals used while ensuring there is enough chemical action to get the job done.

“In some ways aged care facilities are relatively clean,” Agar says.

“But it’s what you can’t see that’s critical. Heavy disinfection and neutralising of odours is important, and you need to have the right products for those issues.”

“The other big issue that will remain on the radar at aged care facilities is indoor air quality, with proper ventilation and filtration of buildings being crucial.

”

THE NEXT PHASE

As COVID-19 becomes more of a background endemic health issue in the years to come, Dr Whiteley expects the focus to switch back to deadly bacteria.

He notes that the global mortality rate for COVID-19 is about 1.3 for every 1000 people who contract the virus, whereas for bacteraemic cases that death rate rises to about three to five people for every 10.

“Therefore, you’re 10 to 100 times more likely to die and those are the bugs that we will really need to worry about in the future,” he says.

Dr Whiteley says these bugs can be carried in the air, but are mostly transmitted by contact. He explains that if people touch a surface with bugs on it, and especially if biofilm bugs are present, those bugs will stay on the hands for up to 19 subsequent touches.

“Hands are the most dangerous things in the world,” he says. “And if the bugs are on your gloves, the same rule applies.”

Such scenarios drive home the importance of rigorous hand hygiene, especially in an aged care setting where outbreaks can be devastating.

He says many cleaning companies still need to raise the bar when it comes to the quality of their work, especially in the aged-care space.

“Cleaning companies are out there making money and that’s what they’re meant to do, but I’m not sure they’ve really managed to grasp the nettle and integrate the sort of quality insurance work that needs to be done. They really need to be picking up the quality because aged care will become more and more of a focus.” ■

How to elevate the commercial restroom experience

On the back of smart technology and high-quality products, commercial businesses are seeking to up the ante with restrooms in their properties to build loyalty with their employees and customers – and protect their brand.

Words Cameron Cooper

For an insight into how once-humble restrooms are being taken to new heights, consider two examples in Queensland.

Brisbane Airport has unveiled Australia’s first ‘airside animal assistance bathrooms’ that provide special toilet and watering facilities for Guide Dogs and other support animals.

Meanwhile, at the Robina Town Centre on the Gold Coast, the Queensland Investment Corporation has spent millions of dollars on an upgraded restroom area that caters for families and includes a secure children’s play area, quiet feeding areas, change tables, access for the disabled and even a microwave.

The initiatives showcase how, in the wake of COVID-19, smart facility owners and managers are delivering a premium experience for employees and customers that demonstrates a level of care, as well as committing to ever-improving levels of cleaning and hygiene.

“There may be additional costs with such facilities, but it will be repaid 10-fold,” says Greg Crisp, sector manager – facility management for Bunzl Australia & New Zealand.

He says it is clear people are demanding improved hygiene standards in restrooms as a result of the pandemic.

“The days of walking into a dirty toilet with no soap and no hand towel should be over,” he says.

“That’s a direct reflection on that business and people are voting with their feet.”

COMFORT IN VOGUE

At Solaris Paper, which distributes high-quality toilet and tissue products, national field and account manager Jeff Lewis expects that after two years of predominantly working from home, many employees will want “some of the comforts of home” as they return to office work.

Likewise, in aged-care facilities, elderly residents and their families want nicer touches in restrooms, including products that are softer on frail skin.

Lewis says there are increasing demands in the commercial space for hand moisturisers, softer and super absorbent TAD hand towels, and quality toilet paper.

“Facility managers tend to be blokes and their KPIs have in the past focused on cost. But females often complain about quality of toilet paper in offices. It’s often the little things that show you care and these women rightly say, ‘You’re giving us tough, crunchy toilet paper’.”

In response, Solaris Paper has in the past year introduced its Sorbent Professional line to offer paper products for the away-from-home market to draw on the massive brand recognition that Sorbent has with home users. It will complement the company’s business-to-business brand, Livi.

While there has been an influx of technology advances and Internet of Things-connected devices, such as no-touch handtowel and soap dispensers, Lewis says the advantages of such initiatives should be weighed up against functionality.

“The fewer moving parts, the better,” he says. “If you go into a top restaurant, the whole experience can be ruined if the restroom is smelly, and you have broken-down dispensers. Then you start questioning what the hygiene is like in the rest of that establishment.”

Doug Bolzon, CEO of cleaning products and systems supplier Dominant, agrees that automated dispenser systems can be a “double-edged sword because they need to be maintained, especially if they’re battery operated”.

“There’s no worse experience than going to a dispenser and it doesn’t work,” he says.

To offset such risks, Dominant is rolling out dispensers with a larger cannister capacity, while it is also meeting demand for high-quality, fragranced hand cleansers and personal care products through its Luna brand. The range has been developed for a commercial space that could easily be placed in a high-end residential bathroom.

“We’re finding that customers are also willing to pay more for such products if required,” Bolzon says.

“In the past, traditional products in the B2B model were based mainly on price, rather than the needs of the end user.”

With this new emphasis on hand sanitisers and other hygiene-related products, Bolzon expects this emphasis on quality to persist.

“People are not using something they have to use. They’re now using something they want to use.”

Crisp is confident that technology has a key role to play in ensuring that restrooms function smoothly, including through the use of cleaning-management

“

Businesses now appreciate that their customers want a better experience. The higher end of town has always been doing it, but now the standards have been raised across the board. It’s now almost something that you’re measured against. ”

Doug Bolzon, CEO, Dominant

software that increases efficiency and improves hygiene in public spaces by optimising cleaning resources.

Such platforms are designed to track key data such as completed cleaning tasks, cleaning frequency, and traffic patterns. Live-reporting functions can validate cleaning activities and reassure restroom users that health and safety issues are being addressed.

“We want to make sure toilets are being cleaned at the best possible time, not just on a rotational basis,” Crisp says. “We need cleaners to be using their time effectively and when it’s needed the most.”

Crisp is also observing greater attention to the aesthetics of equipment such as dispensers, with wraps featuring attractive designs becoming more common.

“In this way, they are a feature of restrooms, rather than just being plain ugly.”

SCIENCE DETERMINES BEST-PRACTICE

Given the hygiene imperative in restrooms in the wake of COVID-19, it has never been more important to make the right product choices.

To that end, research from a few years ago is informative in the debate between

hand towels and conventional jet-air hand dryers.

The international study, led by University of Leeds microbiologist Mark Wilcox, revealed that jet-air dryers in hospital toilets spread more germs than disposable paper towels and should not be used.

It noted that the problem starts when people do not wash their hands properly and then, when using a jet-air dryer, the microbes get blown off and spread around the restroom.

By contrast, paper towels are better at absorbing water and microbes left on the hands and, if they are disposed of properly, there is less potential for cross-contamination.

Lewis says after years of investment in jet-air dryers, many facility managers are switching back to hand towels as a result of COVID-19.

“Often what I’m seeing now is that bathrooms have both,” he says.

“They haven’t ripped out the air dryers, but they’re also offering hand towels.”

He believes the fallout from the pandemic will reaffirm the trend.

“We know now that air dryers just blow around the germs. In the past blowing around the germs was not such an

Three key tips

Dominant’s Doug Bolzon offers three important pieces of advice for cleaning and hygiene companies as they seek to contribute to better restroom experiences.

1. Communicate with facility managers –discuss improvements such as using largercapacity dispenser cannisters and longerlasting batteries in automatic dispensers. “We’re communicating more and more with facility managers, but their awareness is up the dial, too. They’re more diligent than ever in checking these things because they’ll hear from customers if things are not right.”

2. Consolidate your product range – minimising your range of disinfectants and surfactants to quality, specialised products can make it easier for all parties. “That way they get the right product for one application. And with high staff turnover, the training component often needs to happen quickly, so having easy-to-use systems within a consolidated product range can really help that education process.”

3. Focus on floorcare – Bolzon comments that floors are often the “forgotten part” of the restroom hygiene story. As potentially the dirtiest part of any facility, they need to be cleaned and maintained.

issue, but with COVID and knowing how airborne it is, of course it’s much more of a concern.”

According to Crisp, good systems featuring recognised brands are likely to increasingly gain favour among facility managers who are conscious of good hygiene in restrooms.

“That will give people a lot more confidence. We’ve come out of a decade of cutting costs out of washroom spaces. Things like hand dryers have become a cheaper alternative, but they’re a lot less effective and now we’re paying the price for that and we’re forced in some ways to look for those better systems.”

He expects more robust checks and audits of restroom spaces to also become the norm as manufacturers and distributors combine with facility managers to set guidelines for hygiene expectations and outcomes.

NO TURNING BACK

For Bolzon, the trend towards a better user experience for people in restrooms is here to stay. Consumers and employees are more aware of high-touch points and the need for skin-friendly moisturisers and sanitisers.

“And businesses now appreciate that their customers want a better experience. The higher end of town has always been doing it, but now the standards have been raised across the board. It’s now almost something that you’re measured against.”

As Australia weighs up its response to the pandemic, Crisp says it is instructive to consider best-practice in nations such as Singapore (where restroom innovation and cleanliness receives considerable support) and Canada (which is innovating through the minimisation of touch points in restroom entries and making surface wipes available to the public).

“Some facilities are paying a lot of attention to this issue,” Crisp says. “For others, if they don’t review their processes and systems, it will be too late.” ■

leeds.ac.uk/news/article/4284/jet-air_dryers_should_not_be_used_in_hospital_toilets

Paper Towels Better Than Air Dryers to Stop Virus Spread (healthline.com)

WandaNEXT™ Digital Cleaning Management – Bunzl Cleaning & Hygiene (bunzlch.ca) Centre Services (qicre.com)

Brisbane Airport opens Australia’s first airside animal assistance bathrooms : The Moodie Davitt Report -The Moodie Davitt Report

“The trend towards a better user experience for people in restrooms is here to stay. Consumers and employees are more aware of high-touch points and the need for skinfriendly moisturisers and sanitisers.

”

The Rapid Rise

For the first time in three years, The Rapid Group has hosted its annual conference, announcing the 2021/22 financial year was its best yet.

Hosted in Sydney, the conference saw RapidClean general manager, Bruce Lees, sharing the group’s key achievements with its members and suppliers.

These included record preferred supplier purchases of more than $75 million, the addition of four new members in Australia, new preferred supplier arrangements with Pacvac, Polivac, and Makita, and an expanded private label range.

“We [also] retained our Quality Assured status and commenced a sustainability program. We added new admin team members to enhance our capabilities. We launched a fully integrated, national ERP platform. We ran the business efficiently to generate a surplus for the twelfth consecutive

year, and we redistributed record rebates to our members,” Lees said.

The group now boasts 58 members in Australia, and 35 preferred suppliers.

Of all the impressive results that have emerged over recent years, Lees said there’s one trend he finds particularly encouraging.

“Whilst our member and supplier numbers have grown, the number that has grown the fastest is purchases from preferred suppliers. This is due to our members’ and suppliers’ support of the preferred supplier program, our marketing, and the key account platforms we have in place.

“I’m very pleased and proud to come to the conference and offer all RapidClean members, suppliers, and my head office team my sincere congratulations on the results achieved.”

The Rapid Group has emerged from the pandemic bigger and stronger, with the last financial year its most impressive to-date.

NOT WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES…

Despite 2021/22 being The Rapid Group’s most successful year to-date, it was not without its challenges.

In fact, Lees went as far as stating the past 12 months have “easily” been the hardest of his career. COVID continues to have an impact on members, with some having to purchase outside the group’s preferred supplier program due to a lack of stock availability and/or uncertainty regarding future stock levels.

Members and suppliers recognised

Lees said open and effective communication between members and suppliers has been key, as the group continues to adapt to ‘the new normal’.

A transition to Just-In-Time stock levels has also presented difficulties, and – like countless other businesses in the country – The Rapid Group has had to deal with significant cost pressures.

“With regard to rising prices, I ask our suppliers to show restraint where possible,” Lees said.

“As a group, we need you to be profitable. However, there is a balance to be struck, and a recent reduction in container shipping costs in the market gives us some hope that pricing can now stabilise and reduce in some sectors.

“Administration costs are significant with every increase that hits our members inbox. Please, only move when necessary.”

And while one member store was severely impacted by the devastating floods in Lismore, Lees said watching the Group come together to support the owners was undoubtedly a highlight of his year.

“The support that our members and suppliers provided allowed RapidClean Byron Coast to recover. I will never forget the generosity that you all showed,” he said. “It proved to me that in spite of the challenges of recent years, the Rapid family is strong and we look after each other.”

Praise was also shared for Geoff Hughes, who’s now stepped into Newton’s role, and has played a key role in New Zealand’s thriving business, which includes new active key accounts and an expanded private label range.

The private label offering now includes the Green range of ECNZ Certified products, which utilise Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic from milk or water bottles.

The range – which Lees said he’d like to replicate in Australia in the near future – is certified by Environmental Choice and comprises products for housekeeping, kitchen and personal care.

THE NEW PLAN

On behalf of The Rapid Group board, Lees announced ‘The New Plan’, a strategy for optimal performance throughout 2022 to 2027.

It includes six ‘Pillars’ of success and strategies for achieving them, as well as set targets for the 2027 financial year.

“The new five-year plan is a document with specific detail about what we want to achieve and how we plan to achieve it,” Lees said.

The Rapid Group conference concluded with its gala awards dinner, where Member of the Year and Supplier of the Year were named. Member of the Year was awarded to Concept Cleaning Supplies, while Clean Plus was named Supplier of the Year.

“Congratulations to all of the RapidClean award winners, especially Member of the Year, Concept Cleaning Supplies and Supplier of the Year, Clean Plus,” said Bruce Lees, general manager of the Rapid Group. “It was great to recognise the amazing contributions from RapidClean members and suppliers throughout the year and come together again after three years apart.”

The generosity of RapidClean Members and Suppliers was on show once again when $16,560 was raised for the Cancer Council following an auction at the gala dinner and the Sharon Lees Memorial Afternoon Tea.

ACROSS THE DITCH

The current uncertainly around travel meant The Rapid Group’s New Zealand members couldn’t attend this year’s conference, however a separate one-day event will be hosted in Auckland at the end of October, immediately after the CleanNZ Expo.

Lees said New Zealand is “very much” a part of the group’s future plans, congratulating members and suppliers for achieving over 20 per cent growth in the last financial year, following 40 per cent growth the year prior.

Much of the credit, Lees said, must go to Craig Newton, who was appointed New Zealand’s first country manager in 2018, and was tasked with uniting members under the RapidClean New Zealand brand.

“As part of our New Plan, the group will pursue programs which improve our self-reliance. We’ll seek out game-changer opportunities and identify breakthrough products for our members. We’ll invest in prosects that will provide our members with points of difference … enabling them to build market share, maximise profits and build resilience.”

The Six Strategic Pillars are:

1. Member benefits – Facilitate rebate returns and services that meet member needs and attract high quality members in desired geographic locations.

2. Preferred supplier partnerships – Deliver to the expectations of preferred suppliers and maximise return to members.

3. Marketing – Effectively market the RapidClean brand and product offering to deliver results for members and position the brand as a market leader.

4. Key account customers – Secure and maintain profitable key account customers across multiple industries.

5. Financial performance – Deliver the surplus results, balance sheet structure and cash flow certainty to sustain and grow the business.

6. Organisational capability – Invest in the people, systems and processes needed to support growth.

The Rapid Group’s 2023 annual conference will be held in Fiji. ■

Supplier of the Year: Clean Plus

Member of the Year: Concept Cleaning

Disaster-recovery restoration

–

Words Cameron Cooper

To suggest that restoration expert Scott McFadzen is in demand as floods keep inundating multiple areas of Australia would be an understatement.

As director of Coach8, an approved instructor by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), he specialises in delivering training courses and engaging in the restoration of commercial spaces and property after floods and other natural disasters.

“We say we’re in storm season now, but the storm season hasn’t stopped all year,” McFadzen says. “So, there’s been an increase with regards to specialised training.”

During his decades of experience, he has seen all the restoration mistakes and missteps that are often taken in the rush to clean up after extreme events.

For facility managers, homeowners, and cleaning contractors facing such a clean-up, McFadzen offers the following broad tips.

Storms, floods, and fires are a constant threat in Australia and, when it comes to the clean-up afterwards, experienced restoration experts are worth their weight in gold.

how to be prepared and respond

1. Conduct a comprehensive audit of the site

An initial health and safety walk-through at an affected site is crucial to assess the damage and determine appropriate restoration actions. After eliminating initial hazards and removing floodwater, silt, debris and porous content, the space needs to be washed out. During this phase, McFadzen says it is important to do an inventory of damaged contents and any contents to be disposed of for insurance purposes.

2. Clean first, then do the restorative drying

Too often, McFadzen says, people place drying machines into a flood-damaged home or office before cleaning up contaminated materials, remembering that Category 3 water from a river flood is the same category as having sewerage flow through a premises.

“We regularly hear of people installing restorative drying equipment into a property where contaminated materials are still in place,” he says. This uncontrolled airflow can spread dangerous microorganisms, which affects indoor air quality and can cause health issues for occupants.

3. Remove fungal activity from the site

Removal of mould typically involves many forms of cleaning, including wet wiping, HEPA-filtered vacuuming, and an abrasive cleaning method where appropriate on semi-porous surfaces and non-porous surfaces. McFadzen says a common mistake is to blast a site with bleach or other chemicals in an effort to remove mould.

“With the removal process, we don’t want to rely on spraying a chemical or a bleach over mould. We call those guys the spray-and-pray brigade – and that’s where they just spray a chemical over something and pray that it works.”

Any use of disinfectants and cleaning products should be in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines.

McFadzen also warns against overly destructive clean-up activities. While knocking holes in walls may be recommended by an insurance company on occasions to get airflow through a site, there is a risk of causing secondary damage to elements such as tiles that may not need to be removed. There is also the danger of disturbing regulated materials. “So, telling people to go and smash holes in walls is not appropriate,” McFadzen says.

4. Communicate with all parties

Communication between restorers, builders, insurers and property owners is crucial, from the start to the end of a project. Documentation of all processes during a clean-up should also be rigorous.

“Communication is one area where a lot of restorers and builders fail,” McFadzen says. “We always need to engage with clients and let them know what’s happening.”

McFadzen also encourages the use of specialist restoration experts where required. This could include experts in restoring everything from musical equipment through to weaponry.

THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT AT THE RIGHT TIME

Floods have also been the recent focus for XPOWER Australia, a national supplier of equipment such as air movers, air purifiers and dehumidifiers.

National sales manager Brett Low says recent floods in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory have created unprecedented demand for floodrestoration services and equipment.

“You can almost bank on floods decimating areas, unfortunately,” he says. “We just know it’s going to happen.”

Low says property owners and cleaning contractors that rely on drying machines after floods should be conscious of supplychain disruptions.

“When a disaster hits, there’s never enough stock,” he says. COVID-19-related supply-chain disruptions have exacerbated the problem.

However, XPOWER has opted to hold large quantities of stock and “sit on it for six months at a time” to help ease supply woes.

“You need to have stock available should an event happen and that’s one of the things we’ve focused on.”

XPOWER offers a range of equipment, including axial fans to circulate air, dehumidifiers for humidity control, and air scrubbers to help remove mould spores.

Low says the three machines should be used in conjunction with each other, in the right order, for the best results. It is also advisable to seek input from experienced drying professionals to ensure the right equipment is used for the right jobs.

“For instance, it’s pointless putting in a dehumidifier that works best in temperatures of 32C into a property in Far North Queensland where the ambient temperature might be 42C,” Low says. “It just won’t work.”

“

Storms, floods, and fires are a constant threat in Australia and, when it comes to the clean-up afterwards, experienced restoration experts are worth their weight in gold. ”

STAY UP TO DATE WITH RULES AND REGULATIONS

Restorers, builders, and cleaning contractors should always stay abreast of the latest guidelines in relation to clean-ups. For example, the IIRC has published the fifth edition of the S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration, which describes the necessary procedures and precautions for performing water-damage restoration in residential, commercial and institutional buildings.

McFadzen says staying up to date with training and education is vital.

“Anyone getting involved in flood remediation needs to be competent,” he says. “They also need to understand the health and safety risks. When they’re dealing with floodwater, it’s coming from external sources and it’s carrying a largely unknown source of contamination that needs to be remediated correctly.”

Furthermore, he believes restoration experts need to commit to ongoing training, rather than doing a one-off course and thinking that it will be sufficient.

“Standards are always being renewed and revised,” McFadzen says. “Continuous training is important because you should always be learning.” ■

Mould clean-up guidelines

How to avoid common mistakes with disaster clean-ups

Infectious diseases expert Dr Gavin Macgregor-Skinner says a lot of people and some cleaning and restoration companies make fundamental errors during clean-ups after natural disasters, including floods. He offers the following advice.

1. Stop using bleach (sodium hypochlorite)

Multiple research reports have shown that bleach should be avoided as part of disasterrecovery cleaning efforts, according to Dr Macgregor-Skinner, senior director of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA. “Bleach does not kill mould,” he says. “Bleach may make mould go clear, but it doesn’t kill mould and it’s toxic. People honestly believe they’ve killed the mould by bleaching it, and don’t realise they have only eliminated the stain, not the spores, and not the mould. We’ve got to fix this urban myth.” Dr Macgregor-Skinner’s frustration rests with many authorities and “selfcalled experts” who continue to recommend the use of bleach in public messages after disasters. Instead, he recommends using a product that is cheap and readily available such as white distilled vinegar, which is proven to kill mould spores and help prevent mould outbreaks in the future. Spray the vinegar directly on to the mould, and let it sit for at least 60 minutes before wiping or scrubbing.

2. Resist throwing out salvageable items

During the recent floods in Lismore and Murwillumbah in northern NSW, the sight of people throwing out refrigerators frustrated Dr Macgregor-Skinner. “You can clean and disinfect a refrigerator,” he says. Other household appliances could also be rescued, he says, but in rushed clean-ups they are often sent to landfill.

3. Be selective with ‘aggressive’ high-pressure cleaners

The screech of high-pressure washers can be heard after every flood as well-meaning people try to clean up homes, offices and equipment. “But it damages stuff,” Dr Macgregor-Skinner says. For example, using such machines on roof tiles can strip off protective coatings that leave them vulnerable to bacteria, viruses and mould. They can also damage the surface of floors and tables, while they tend to aerosolise dangerous bacteria. Rather than using high-pressure washers to remove material, for your home use low-pressure cleaning instead. “After a flood, we’re too abrasive with our methods and we damage our brickwork and tiles and all the surfaces that need to be protected.”

4. Get some microbial test kits

When a flood goes through an office or house, it will almost certainly contain oils, chemicals, pollutants, germs, bacteria, fungi and mould. “It’s a toxic swamp that’s gone through your house,” Dr Macgregor-Skinner says. That means real rigour is required in the clean-up. Just because something looks clean does not mean that it is. Dr Macgregor-Skinner says after cleaning houses following a disaster, the owners or cleaners rarely turn to microbial test kits to see if the property is safe.

“Everyone goes, ‘Well, it looks clean and smells clean, so we’re safe to go back in, but you need to test first.”

1. Victorian State Government – Mould removal at home – use white vinegar or household detergent

– Available at https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/mould-removal-at-home

2. New South Wales State Government – Using white vinegar to kill mould

– Available at https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/living/health-safety-savings/mould/chapters/how-to-remove-mould

3. Queensland State Government – using bleach is not recommended because it’s not an effective mould killer

– Available at https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/living/health-safety-savings/mould/chapters/how-to-remove-mould

4. Queensland State Government – Mould and damp

– Available at https://www.qld.gov.au/housing/public-community-housing/public-housing-tenants/looking-after-your-home/safety/mould

“

Communication between restorers, builders, insurers and property owners is crucial, from the start to the end of a project. Documentation of all processes during a clean-up should also be rigorous.

”

Words Michael Wilson

Carpet cleaning companies depend on various cleaning products. Therefore, it’s important to know which are the best performing and most cost effective.

This is typically accomplished by conducting a product audit. Without an audit, products are often repeatedly purchased out of habit rather than based on an analysis of performance and cost.

Along with product audits, carpet cleaners should also evaluate their suppliers, the distributors that market those products to them.

Because we usually have a personal relationship with distributors, a supplier audit is rarely conducted. We like someone, so we keep working with that person over the years.

However, as with products, without investigating possible alternatives, carpet cleaners may not be getting the time, attention, and quality service they deserve from distributors. A supplier audit is designed to determine this.

BENEFITS AND CAVEATS

Here are a few reasons why conducting a supplier audit is so important:

• A top-notch supplier will soon learn which types of cleaning solutions and equipment work best for you and the types of services you offer. Essentially, they become your partner when it comes to supplies.

• The supplier will track and update you on what new products may prove more performance effective or cost effective than those you are currently using.

• Because supply chain issues are such a big concern right now, an astute supplier may be able to let you know ahead of time if a specific product may be in short supply soon.

• A high-quality supplier can help you improve your customer relations, satisfy your clients, and maintain your quality standards.

It’s clear there are benefits to conducting a supplier audit, but before we discuss how to conduct one, we need to acknowledge a couple of things.

First, virtually every audit will point out the strong and not-so-strong points of a supplier. Expect this.

It is then your job to determine if the strong points outweigh the weak points based on your business needs and preferences.

Second, if the decision is made to continue with a current supplier,

be sure to share your findings with them—acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses.

Further, if another supplier provides a service that you would like your current supplier to offer, be sure to ask about it.

Suppliers committed to providing you with quality service will typically be more than willing to make changes to accommodate you.

DESIGNING YOUR SUPPLIER AUDIT

There are several key components to a supplier audit, but the first one starts with you. Begin by asking yourself the following questions:

• Do I need someone to help me select products/cleaning solutions for my business?

• Do I need someone for product advice?

• Do I need someone that specifically knows the carpet cleaning industry?

• Do I prefer selecting products from distributors or brick-and-mortar/online mega-retailers?

• How important are product delivery issues to me?

Answering these questions will not only help you design your supplier audit, but also help you determine if you need to conduct one in the first place.

If you are new to the industry, some handholding is often necessary. And if you’ve been around for a while, you’ll likely find that a supplier evaluation turns out to be more revealing than expected.

Answering these questions also helps you stay focused on what you are looking for in a supplier.

As you conduct your supplier audit, here are some things that should be examined:

• The supplier’s website: Virtually all distributors have e-commerce sites.

The big difference is whether they are essentially product brochures or provide product information along with

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Without an audit, products are often repeatedly purchased out of habit rather than based on an analysis of performance and cost.

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content that can help you run your business. Some distributors, for instance, provide excellent articles and videos on how to use a product or perform a task. This material can prove invaluable.

• Customer reviews: Distributors market products, but for carpet cleaning technicians, they can also provide invaluable services. See if there are any customer reviews on this supplier and always take customer reviews seriously.

• Employee turnover: Some companies have revolving doors, with employees coming in one door as others are leaving through another. This can indicate business operation problems that could impact your company. On the other hand, a distributor with low staff turnover offers the opportunity to work with the same people over time, developing business relationships that can benefit your company.

• Product availability: For a variety of reasons, our country may experience product shortages for a couple more years. Supply chain issues can have a more severe impact on small, mom-and-pop operations than on larger

organizations. Finding a supplier who is part of a nationwide network can alleviate some of these issues. If the local distributor is out of a product, another distributor within the network probably has the product and can deliver it to you.

• One-on-one interviews: While continuing to work with the same supplier for years because you like them can have its pitfalls, it also can have its benefits. It is important to determine if you are comfortable with the supplier, and the best way to do this is with one-on-one interviews. Remember, these are typically long-term relationships. It’s essential to work with someone that you like, trust, and feel comfortable with. Include this as a critical part of your supplier audit as well.

While it might seem like a chore to evaluate your supplier relationship when you are content with your current situation, you’ll likely find an audit to be an eye-opening and fruitful experience. ■

Michael Wilson is AFFLINK’s vice president of marketing and packaging. This article was first published in Cleanfax magazine and has been republished with permission

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While it might seem like a chore to evaluate your supplier relationship when you are content with your current situation, you’ll likely find an audit to be an eye-opening and fruitful experience.

”

Innovation testing offers a window into consumer sentiment to help product developers put their best product forward.

Cleaning up the innovation process with ideas testing

Whether purchasing cleaning and hygiene products for use in commercial buildings or the home, buyers have a seemingly endless number of options from which to choose.

From the many multi-surface cleaners and hand sanitisers to disinfectants in spray and wipe formats, today there are even more brands and products trying to capture attention than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

How can cleaning brands ensure their product becomes the product that buyers reach for time and time again?

Innovation testing offers a window into consumer sentiment to help product developers and marketers put their best product with the most profit potential forward.

UNDERSTANDING ‘WISDOM OF THE CROWD’ METHODOLOGY

Securing insights from the market on products before they launch or ahead of a planned rebrand can be the difference between commercial success and disappointing sales.

So, how can organisations best approach ideas testing? Is a focus group comprised of customers or prospects the answer

because they know the industry and the main challenges?

Or is there another approach that will yield valuable insights? In fact, crowds are better at predicting success than small, targeted groups of people because they don’t have a vested interest in the topic.

For example, the popular television game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire leverages the ‘wisdom of the crowd’ idea by asking the audience for advice, which provides 90 per cent accuracy compared to the phone-afriend method, which offers 65 per cent accuracy. By polling a large, diverse audience, organisations get the most

realistic view of the in-market profit potential for their ideas.

A sample size of 500 respondents represents the general population and is proven to provide predictive accuracy.

The wisdom of the crowd method works even when products are not meant to be purchased or used by everyone in the sample audience.

Admittedly, people are often poor witnesses of their own behaviour, but more accurate at for casting how other people will behave.

Thus, high-quality testing platforms play to these strengths by framing the question not of whether the individual would buy the product, but whether they would invest in the idea.

A trading game that asks respondents whether they would buy or sell shares in the idea can determine predicted acceptance.

The answers, as well as the speed with which people make their decision, are key metrics. Ideas testing should also capture emotional response by asking individuals how the idea makes them feel.

The happier an idea makes someone, the more likely it is to be a success because people will want to select it over another option.

Bringing behavioural science into ideas testing provides an additional layer of accuracy so that development teams and marketers can be confident in their proposed concepts.

SPUTTING IDEAS TO THE TEST

There are a number of ideas that businesses can test to support the development of a new cleaning product or understand how to update an existing product. These include, but are not limited to:

Product concepts

Certain innovations in the industry saw a dramatic rise in adoption during the pandemic, in part due to the “hygiene theatre” that emerged. Now that cleaning concerns and frequencies have more or less levelled out, product development teams might wonder what professional cleaners and consumers will gravitate toward in the future. Concept testing offers advice on the ideas that might be worth bringing to market so that product development teams can invest their budgets and time wisely.

Product name

Certain product and brand names are so catchy that they are now used to refer to an entire category, like Google. Becoming the next household name requires broad awareness and memorability. Ideas testing can help weed out names that won’t make their mark and highlight those that will be more engaging in an increasingly competitive market.

Logos

Logos can become so recognisable that they become synonymous with the company itself. Many organisations in the cleaning industry gravitate toward logos that incorporate the colours green, blue, and white, and products that offer sustainability benefits are even more likely to use green to convey this messaging. But what makes a successful logo? Gaining feedback can help designers and marketers get their branding right so that it can become a familiar and trusted emblem.

Packaging

There is a certain degree of flexibility with packaging, including the shape of the container, the colours and font used, the sizing of the text, and the placement of key claims and certification logos. Pack testing provides clarity on which elements are working and where improvements can be made.

Claims and benefits

The pandemic shifted the public’s awareness of how closely cleaning is tied to health and safety. But should that messaging still be the main focus when communicating how a product works and what differentiates it from other formulations or alternatives? Testing highlights which features and benefits will resonate the most with buyers.

CREATING THE NEXT GREAT CLEANING PRODUCT

While the formulations for cleaning products typically don’t change much over time, or even from one disinfectant to another, the cleaning industry still relies on innovation. New products come to market to help professional cleaners conduct their tasks more efficiently and safely.

At the same time, new household cleaning and hygiene products emerge to enhance the cleanliness of consumers’ homes.

This has been especially true during the pandemic. Ideas testing can help product development and marketing teams align on the right product names, logos, packaging, claims, taglines, and more to maximise profit potential.

A platform that is based on the principles of wisdom of the crowd and enables quick, informative results makes the process more predictive and useful. ■

Lisa Buckler is senior vice president of growth and partnerships for System1. This article was first published in ISSA Today and has been republished with permission

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Securing insights from the market on products before they launch or ahead of a planned rebrand can be the difference between commercial success and disappointing sales. ”

Office spaces:

Is your business set up to protect people from germs?

As Australia continues to open and lift all COVID-19 border restrictions1, latest research from Reckitt indicates 74 per cent of Australian consumers remain concerned about the spread of germs.2

According to data from the ABS, in April 2022, despite more people working from home than at the start of the pandemic, more than half (53.8 per cent) of Australians hadn’t worked at least one day a week from home in the previous four weeks, indicating that for many, a return to office work is now the norm.

A March 2022 survey commissioned by Reckitt’s Lysol Pro Solutions and conducted by Suzy in the

United States, found 53 per cent of American office employees were travelling to their company’s office every day, with 30 per cent going into the office a few times each week3. Yet only 27 per cent of respondents believed that their company’s health and safety measures were being enforced to the highest standard4.

While yes, this is research from overseas, the survey underscores the importance of an effective and well-enforced office hygiene program to help protect and inspire confidence among employees.

As we found ourselves during the colder months, with NSW hospitals reporting in May 2022 an influx of COVID-19, cold and flu cases5,

it’s a good time to be reminded that if you are an employer, you’re required by law to put into place protective measures to limit the spread of germs in the workplace6

Here are some steps you can take to help ensure your space, and team, are protected.

A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT PROMOTES COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY

The office environment, where groups of people share spaces, can be a source of germ transmission.

Employers need a robust cleaning and disinfection regimen that is both backed by comprehensive, science-backed protocols, and engages employees to participate in the office hygiene experience.

Employees should play a role in disinfection, however, they need solutions to help protect themselves and their colleagues in the office, including the necessary products and education.

Regularly stocked sanitiser should be made available where a wash basin isn’t possible (i.e. at the office entrance), soap dispensers in bathrooms should be full with signage to remind those to wash their hands (consider putting this on the back of cubicle doors), and wipes should be present for employees at their desks and in shared common areas such as break rooms and kitchens.

What’s more, understanding where and when to direct cleaning and disinfection measures is critical.

IT’S ALL ABOUT ‘TARGETED HYGIENE’

A keyway to help minimise the spread of germs on surfaces is to take a ‘targeted hygiene’ approach.

Rooted in research and rigour, targeted hygiene refers to the practice of putting into place hygiene surface and hand hygiene interventions when and where they are most needed7,8.

Based around risk management and efficacy, targeted hygiene focuses on what is needed to help stop the spread of germs, pointing businesses towards cleaning smarter, not just harder, and encouraging hand hygiene at key moments, rather than saying just “frequently”.

Research has shown that high-touch points such as door handles9 and hand dryers can become contaminated by dirty hands, allowing

germs to be transferred onto the hands of the next person to touch them10. It therefore makes sense then for these kinds of items to be cleaned more frequently at intervals that reflect their likely use (you don’t worry so much about areas where they are not being used) so you target the frequency accordingly.

Once targeted hygiene protocols have been developed, it is important to ensure your office’s cleaning teams are trained so they understand when, where, and how to clean.

Monitoring is always part of any good cleaning system to ensure spaces are not only being cleaned and disinfected in accordance with government health advice, but also so protocols can be adapted based on footfall of the office space. For example, if the space is only being used two days a week versus five, then protocols should be adapted accordingly.

When it comes to compliance and use of protective measures such as hand sanitiser, if you notice that the dispensers need refilling less frequently, it might mean that it needs to be placed somewhere more accessible and visible, or perhaps your messaging to encourage its use needs revisiting.

PARTNERING WITH SPECIALISTS

While the Australian Government provides excellent advice on cleaning and disinfection, employers and facilities managers also can turn to experts for how to best protect employees in the office.

Drawing on science-based targeted hygiene, which helps determine where, when, and how germs spread, Dettol Pro Solutions recommends the appropriate products and protocols to create protected spaces.

As employers and employees return to the office, employees are placing trust in their employer that the business is doing everything they can to help create a comprehensive hygiene program which reinforces enhanced disinfection measures. Employee-empowered hygiene not only helps protect the business, but also puts a culture of care in place at the office. ■

Jonathan Weiss is commercial director of B2B for Europe, Australia and New Zealand at Reckitt

1 Home Affairs, All COVID-19 border restrictions to be lifted, Home Affairs, Accessed 4 July 2022 <https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/ClareONeil/Pages/covid-border-restrictions-to-be-lifted.aspx>.

2 Reckitt Toluna Tracker, Wave 16 (6/7/2021-6/13/2021)

3 Lysol Pro Solutions, Suzy Return to Office Survey Results, Accessed 5 July 2022 <https://www.dropbox.com/s/qm0r62y0wzikfwu/Suzy%20%2B%20RB%20Lysol%20Pro_Return%20to%20Office%20

Results_1.4.22%5B1%5D.xlsx?dl=0>

4 Lysol Pro Solutions, Suzy Return to Office Survey Results, Accessed 5 July 2022 <https://www.dropbox.com/s/qm0r62y0wzikfwu/Suzy%20%2B%20RB%20Lysol%20Pro_Return%20to%20Office%20 Results_1.4.22%5B1%5D.xlsx?dl=0>

5 NSW Government 2022, Stay safe this winter get your flu shot now, NSW Government, accessed 4 July 2022 <https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20220524_00.aspx>.

6 Business 2022, Keep you and your employees safe during COVID-19, Business, Accessed 4 July 2022, <https://business.gov.au/risk-management/emergency-management/coronavirus-information-and-support-forbusiness/keep-you-and-your-employees-safe-during-covid-19>.

7 The Case for Targeted Hygiene, 2019, Accessed 7 July 2022 at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1757913919864070#:~:text=Targeted%20Hygiene%20is%20an%20 approach,in%20Figures%201%20and%202).

8 Bloomfield SF, Rook GA, Scott EA, Shanahan F, Stanwell-Smith R, Turner P. 2016. Time to abandon the hygiene hypothesis: new perspectives on allergic disease, the human microbiome, infectious disease prevention and the role of targeted hygiene.Perspectives in Public Health. 2016;136(4):213-224. doi:10.1177/1757913916650225

9 Rheinbaben FV, Schünemann, S Groß, T, Wolff, MH, 2000. Transmission of viruses via contact in a household setting: experiments using bacteriophage φX174 as a model virus, Journal of Hospital Infection, Volume 46, Issue 1, Pages 61-66, ISSN 0195-6701, https://doi.org/10.1053/jhin.2000.0794.

10 Hygiene - Retail, supermarkets, and shopping centres, https://covid19.swa.gov.au/covid-19-information-workplaces/industry-information/retail-supermarkets-and-shopping-centres-2

“ Employers need a robust cleaning and disinfection regimen that is both backed by comprehensive, science-backed protocols, and engages employees to participate in the office hygiene experience. ”

Invest in

leadership

Facility managers (FMs) and building service contractors (BSCs) can’t expect their cleaning operations to run smoothly if their organisation doesn’t have the best possible leadership.

Great leaders make the critical decisions that guide your operations to consistently achieve the highest levels of cleanliness, safety, and health at the lowest overall cost.

They create an environment of motivation, engagement, and empowerment, not one of high employee turnover.

Your workplace under a strong leader allows the right people with the right attitudes, traits, and skills to be consistently effective, efficient, and productive.

Sadly, even though 83 per cent of businesses say developing leaders is crucial, too many

organisations underestimate the importance of good leadership. Consider these statistics collected by Go Remotely:

• 79 per cent of employees will quit their jobs due to a lack of appreciation from leaders

• 69 per cent of millennials believe leadership skills are not developed in their workplaces

• Only 2.6 per cent of management workers are highly engaged due to uninspired leadership.

Meanwhile, business research firm DDI’s Cost of Poor Leadership Calculator computes that one poor leader costs a company more than $126,000 annually in low productivity, turnover, and staff dissension.

The obvious question these statistics raise is what constitutes a great leader? While the answer can vary, there are specific traits and skills that nearly all true leaders possess.

Take these steps to help ensure the people you choose as managers will be qualified to lead your team.

DON’T MISTAKE

MANAGEMENT

FOR LEADERSHIP

Many custodial teams have solid supervisors and managers, but that does not mean they are great leaders. Good supervisors and managers:

• Plan

• Organise

• Budget

• Supervise

• Measure

• Report

• Reward

• Control.

Great leaders:

• Coach

• Motivate

• Challenge

• Inspire

• Build confidence

• Bring out the best in their people and their team as a whole.

To accomplish the list above, great leaders need the right traits and skills, terms that are often mistakenly used interchangeably.

Traits relate to a person’s qualities and characteristics, while skills refer to their ability to perform a task well. The right mix of both helps drive teams toward a shared goal.

In addition to possessing the traits of integrity and a great “can-do/will-do” attitude, great leaders are:

• Open-minded and curious, constantly seeking out new solutions

• Coachable

• Collaborative yet encouraging of constructive dissent

• Respectful

• Balanced between confidence and humility

• Accountable to themselves while holding others accountable.

• Great FM leaders also have a certain skillset. They:

• Communicate well

• Focus on results, not processes

• Delegate effectively

• Develop and empower their people

• Drive continuous improvement

• Appreciate their team and make them feel valued

• Embrace diversity

• Champion change

• Act decisively based on solid data/risk versus reward

• Foster inclusivity

• Constantly curate talent

• Have a clear vision for the future.

Bonus: Great FM leaders are experts on cleaning and know how to lead an efficient cleaning operation.

GO FOR GREAT

Take these steps to help ensure the people you choose as managers will be qualified to lead your custodial team:

Set your North Star

Before hiring or promoting new leaders, make sure your organisation’s vision, mission, core values, and key objectives/strategies are clearly stated, aligned with one another, and always followed. This clarity is your team’s North Star. It provides the authentic purpose necessary to build a cohesive team.

Be selective

Especially in a tight labour market, you might be tempted the first individuals who come your way. Don’t. Subpar leaders are costly; lower team engagement, productivity, efficiency, and morale; and lead to higher employee turnover.

Hire for traits

Hire based on traits, not experience/skills, which can be taught to those with the right attitude, including the ability and desire to learn. Without the right attitudes and traits, they will not fit into your organisation’s culture or be engaged/motivated; they will likely quit the job soon or, worse, negatively impact the team.

Fix mistakes – fast

Whether hiring or promoting, make sure the person is a true leader within the probationary period. Better to admit an error early than make the million-dollar mistake of having to keep that employee for years.

Ensure basics

Provide effective/proper onboarding, and initial and ongoing education, training, and coaching for all employees to ensure thorough knowledge of their current responsibilities. This ensures a solid skills foundation for subsequent promotion(s).

CONDUCT AN ASSESSMENT

In my experience, a comprehensive evaluation of your current leaders and people should include about 60 areas of review. Make sure your assessment includes a 360-degree evaluation in which supervisors, managers, and directors assess themselves and are assessed by their supervisor(s), co-workers, and direct reports using specified criteria.

Based on the findings, you can determine who is currently operating at a top leadership level and who needs training in specific area(s). This will allow you to develop a detailed performance improvement plan for them.

Custodial teams with strong leadership that sets and keeps them engaged, motivated, and on course will see their efforts rewarded and their leaders cherished. ■

Mike Sawchuk is a senior operations, sales, and business development leader and owner of Sawchuk Consulting. He can be reached via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/mikesawchuk or at www.sawchukconsulting.com

“ Teams with strong leadership that sets and keeps them engaged, motivated, and on course will see their efforts rewarded and their leaders cherished.

”

The 7Ms of better marketing

To make your company’s marketing process stronger, I’d like to look at what I call the 7Ms of phenomenal marketing.

1. Marketing mindset

The way you think about marketing is critical. Many cleaning and restoration business owners don’t plan their marketing. Instead of being proactive with their marketing, they are reactive. They market when things slow down, or they market when they have time. A marketing plan that is implemented consistently is the key to record sales and profits. Don’t wait until you need business to market your business.

2. Money

Establish money goals. Do you have a sales goal? You should have a number chosen that you expect sales to hit for the year. Have you planned what your marketing budget will be? You should know how much you’re going to spend, on what, and when.

3. Mission

When it comes to marketing, you want to keep in mind what you are actually delivering. If you have not determined what your company’s mission is, you should come to terms with that before planning your marketing. Your mission is the unique experience you want to deliver.

Not seeing the results you expected? Maybe it’s time to try a new approach.

•

Whatever your company aims to do for its customers, you should have a statement that expresses it. Your mission will determine who your target market is and what your marketing messages will look like.

4. Market

To determine who your prime target market is, think about who wants and needs the unique experience you want to provide. For example, since our mission is to help small business owners stop being slaves to their businesses, our target market is the small business owner who is open to change and ready to learn. This is only one type of business owner. Not every business owner is in our market.

For example, the “serial entrepreneur” — the one who is always starting a new venture, has a very short attention span, and gets distracted by bright, shiny objects — is not our prime target. They are just looking for the next big marketing wave to ride. That’s not what I do. Does that mean we don’t service serial entrepreneurs? Not at all. We just don’t target them.

Another type of business owner is the brand-new business owner. The problem here is that they have not yet experienced the pain of being in business. They don’t feel like slaves to their businesses. They are still on the “honeymoon,” so to speak.

Another example is my high-end service company in Houston. We decided that we would provide the “most outstanding service experience ever” — that we would have the best equipment and processes and be better-trained than anyone else. We would offer first-class, over-the-top customer service.

Guess what? Not everyone is willing to pay for that pricey, first-class experience. So, our target market became what we call “Mercedes clients.” It doesn’t mean they all drive Mercedes; it just means that they have Mercedes attitudes towards their indoor environments.

When I learned who my target market was, I was more successful because I then focused all my marketing and my coaching around the needs of my prime target market.

5. Message

Once you determine how much money your business needs to produce, what your mission is, and who your target market is, you now want to craft a message. What’s the message that resonates with your target market?

I have found that the high-quality prospects are looking for five things:

Reputation

Your message should create trust. This is done by communicating what others say about you. This can be referral sources as well as client testimonials and ratings. The benefit is they have

peace of mind that you will treat them right.

• Experience

In the high-end market, the client must be convinced that you didn’t start yesterday. If you have been in business for a long time, be sure to communicate that and that you are experienced in all areas they may be concerned with. The benefit to them is that you or your team will know how to handle their situation. If you are new, focus on the next point instead.

Education

•

Communicate the training you and your team have received. The benefit is that you are on the cutting edge of what’s happening in your industry.

•

Systems

The experience your company provides will set you apart more than anything else, but you must communicate what you do that is different from others — and that experience must appeal to your target market.

•

Guarantee

Offering a 100 per cent, money-back guarantee takes the risk out of choosing your company for potential clients.

6. Methods

It seems that digital marketing is all the rage today. I’m still scratching my head, wondering why people would want to attract strangers from the internet while they ignore their repeat clients and referral sources.

My cleaning company generated over a million dollars in referral business last year. Why? Because we consistently implement our referral programs. And the other 2.4 million dollars in revenue? Repeat business. How do we do that? We consistently market to our past clients.

This is not just my company. Our industry has many referral-based companies that generate record sales and profits without traditional or digital advertising.

7. MAP

To get where you want to go, you need a Marketing Action Plan (MAP). Your MAP outlines what you are going to do every day, every week, and every month to reach your goals.

You could also call this your marketing calendar. It doesn’t have to be fancy; it just has to exist. You need a road map to follow. When you take the time to create a simple plan, you can then easily follow it.

Remember that the number one reason small businesses don’t grow, or do as well as they could, is failure to implement, so go take some massive action to make this year’s marketing efforts work. ■

The 7Ms of Phenomenal Marketing is taken from Howard Partridge’s book Phenomenal Marketing Systems – The 14 Fastest Ways to the CA$H.

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A marketing plan that is implemented consistently is the key to record sales and profits. ”

Pressure cleaning safety

Although many cleaning contractors are experienced and conscious of the need for operator safety training, there is a lack of awareness of the need to ensure products are used safely, in spite of knowledge or experience.

A recent survey conducted by Aussie Pumps indicated many operators in the cleaning industry have not undergone any formal training and are not familiar with even the basic principles of how the high-pressure water blaster equipment works. By that, they mean the

technology behind the actual high-pressure jet that gets the work done.

A basic understanding of the physics behind the machines leads to not only safer operation but, faster, more efficient cleaning and a significant decrease in a failure rate of components.

FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT

That old saying applies very much to pressure cleaning operators. Imagine an operator doing a cleaning job with a piece of equipment that is

perfectly attuned to the job but involves up to five or six hours of high-pressure water blaster cleaning work. That means operating a handheld gun and lance combination for that period.

It’s tiring work! And it can be boring. It’s easy to understand how operators can become careless as fatigue sets in. Employers as well as operators need to be very conscious of the fatigue factor. Often injuries are generated not just by equipment failures but also operator ignorance and a desire to get the job finished quickly.

We’ve seen first-hand machine failures that could’ve resulted in fatalities through this factor. An example was an operator wanting to get more pressure out of a 4,000-psi machine in the expectation this would make the job faster. To crank up the pressure, the operator has to adjust the unloader valve beyond the machine’s designed pressure rating. That’s a very dangerous thing to do.

By increasing the pressure in the machine beyond the pump’s designed capability, the user is not only taking a risk with pump failure, but also with the other key components of the machine. Users often don’t realise that 90 per cent of injuries generated from pressure cleaning is related to high pressure hose and fitting failures.

UNDERSTANDING HOW MACHINES WORK

Most employers understand that a failure to maintain equipment in line with normal safety standards, or train operators so they are conscious of the need to replace faulty or leaking components, can lead to not only injury but major claims against the employer for not taking the necessary precautions.

We’ve identified cleaning contractors who use pressure cleaners in their activities every day, but still don’t understand how the machines actually work. They don’t understand the link between the orifice in the gun, the unloader setting and the pump’s capacity in its combination of both flow and pressure, to generate the right result for the cleaning job.

Labour saving devices such as turbos, flat surface cleaners, telescopic wands, and detergent foaming equipment are all very handy for use with pressure cleaners. They will cut cleaning times dramatically but, must be sized correctly for the machine they’re paired with.

It’s quite common to see a range of machines involved in a fleet of equipment. They may not only be in different capacities, in terms of horsepower, flow and pressure but also be a range of different brands. Some may be third-world machines powered by copy engines, others top quality famous name models.

The point is that the range of machines need to have the accessories that are used with them paired exactly to the machine they are going to be used with. It is common to see flat surface cleaners being used with machines they were never designed to operate with. For example, most 20” flat surface cleaners, will run 020 nozzles.

The 035-orifice size is specifically paired to a particular band of equipment. For example, the 035 nozzle with works with a 4,000 psi (280 bar) machine with a flow of 12.5 – 13 lpm. Operating that machine with an 045 nozzle, which is a larger orifice, will result in a pressure drop with consequent inefficiency of the cleaning process.

If the accessory being used with the machine is incorrect there will be an immediate loss of performance. Convenience is a major factor controlling this which is why we stress the need for education.

TRAINING ON OFFER

Australian Pump first started training operators with a free training course about a decade ago. Since then, there’s been an evolution of understanding of the need for training and a familiarity for operators doing professional cleaning tasks. We recently launched a new program, Aussie Safe Operator, and also offer a free operator training course with a major emphasis on product awareness.

The training program details the value of using pressure cleaners because of their indispensable labour-saving advantages. The program is all about avoiding the risks that can lead to serious injury. We welcome operators and employers to get onto the link below on their website and do the training course and get the Aussie Safe Operator certification.

It doesn’t matter what brand of machine you are using; how old it is, or what the pressure rating is. Everybody should be trained. Under the terms of the safety standards, operators of Class B machines are required to be trained by a Registered Training Organisation. For operators of Class A machines, Aussie’s free training program is something all operators can take advantage of.

The above story has been contributed by Australian Pump Industries for the benefit of operators and employers using high pressure cleaning equipment. This article is not intended to be the absolute word on training as this is a ‘moveable feast’. However, you will notice we haven’t mentioned steam cleaning or hot wash systems, which introduce an entirely new level of safety requirements and training. ■ Warwick Lorenz is owner of Australian Pump Industries www.aussiepumps.com.au

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Employers as well as operators need to be very conscious of the ‘fatigue factor’. Often injuries are generated not just by equipment failures but also operator ignorance and a desire to get the job finished quickly. ”

Master your craft

Build your confidence through training and certification in the cleaning industry

If you’re going to perform a job, it’s important to know how to do so correctly. Having that knowledge can be a huge boost to your confidence, as well as your performance.

But how do you learn the necessary knowledge and skills to complete a job and do it well?

If you desire better confidence and want to improve your chances of doing quality work, finding the proper training and certification will help you expand your knowledge and allow you to master your craft.

Mastery is defined as having comprehensive knowledge or skill in a subject. Comprehension is expressed as understanding all – or nearly all – elements or aspects of something.

By these definitions, it’s obvious that becoming a master takes a great deal of time, effort, and desire.

Achieving mastery in the cleaning industry can be overwhelming without training and a safe place to practice as you work toward achieving your desired skill level.

However, once you do reach your desired level of expertise, knowing you have achieved something so many others have not is extremely fulfilling. You’ll also stand out from the crowd.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more than 2.8 million cleaning workers in the United States in 2020.

With cleaning worker turnover averaging 200 per cent to 400 per cent annually, the need for certified cleaning workers continues to climb.

If you plan to expand your mastery in the cleaning industry, here are some recommendations to follow:

• Focus on your desired skill

Become an expert by specifically pursuing one skill. Mastery requires intensity! Dividing your attention on various pursuits will only slow your journey. Steer away from being a “jack of all trades and master of none.” Some examples of expertise to be mastered include stone care, carpet spotting, and becoming a certified trainer.

• Commit

Mastery is a long-term journey that never ends. After all, mastery is the process of becoming a life-long learner. Those who don’t commit or quit during plateaus and challenges typically fail to achieve mastery. Masters remain steadfast for the long haul.

• Get going

While most people desire to perfect their craft, many people lack in execution. Becoming a master requires repeated action and constant intensity. Don’t get caught up in the day-to-day grind and distractions that are typical in the cleaning industry. Make a habit of scheduling time to practice your skill.

• Choose a coach or mentor

It’s critical to have a great coach or mentor. This should be someone who has been in your shoes of seeking mastery and has achieved that goal. Ideally, a coach should inspire you to be successful, provide sage wisdom during challenging times, and help you navigate throughout your skill progression.

• Have a support system

A supportive co-worker or leader that cares for your success and has your back can be very advantageous during your mastery journey. Stay connected with a circle of people that can pick you

up when you fall and keep you humble when you achieve success.

• Want it!

You must have a strong desire, backed up by a commitment to put in the work. Muster additional strength by realizing that many people before you have been through this. You can do it, too!

• Get inspired

Identify whatever it takes to get you going. Remind yourself why you chose the cleaning industry in the first place.

• Practice and repeat

The best way to learn something is to do it. Get obsessed with perfecting your craft through deliberate practice. Practice matched with intensity and commitment will make all the difference in your level of skill.

Mastering your craft will help you through the changes in your career that are inevitable and sometimes out of your control. In life and business, the only constant is change. You can depend on the fact that your current work situation is not permanent.

At some point, you will move up in your job, take on greater responsibilities, switch departments, move to another company, etc.

The list of things that will change in your life is limitless. Nothing remains the same. Execute these actions daily to build your momentum.

Before you know it, the needle will move forward, and your confidence will fuel your pursuit in reaching whatever you choose to master in the cleaning industry. ■

Tim Poskin is the director of ISSA Consulting, providing systems integration and consulting solutions for the cleaning industry. He can be reached at timp@issa.com.

can boost workplace culture uniforms How

Every day, people around the world wake up and get ready for work. Regardless of industry or role, putting on a company uniform is part of a routine that sets the tone and mindset for the day.

While dressing, we can’t help but develop thoughts, feelings and attitudes associated with what we’re putting on.

Does the uniform make you feel empowered, stylish, comfortable, and excited to start your day? Or do you feel drab and underwhelmed?

The importance of fashion and function in uniform is largely ignored, even though it has a direct and highly influential impact on performance, company culture, attitude and perception.

As someone who is passionate about the importance of what you wear to work, I feel compelled to broadcast this often as possible: “Uniforms are not just uniforms!! They can – and should! – be so much more.”

Uniforms serve different purposes in different situations, roles and industries, but there are some common benefits shared by all.

If you are debating whether you should introduce a uniform to your business, or you are not satisfied with your current uniform and need to find a new direction, learning why team uniforms are so important to a business will help you to decide.

• Team uniforms promote equality

Uniforms are a great equaliser. Your staff may occupy different levels in

the chain of command, but when they are all dressed in the same uniform, there is a shared sense of team spirit. A uniform provides a level of comfort and structure for employees and can make senior staff more approachable to their juniors. Uniforms also eliminate the stress of what to wear to work, reducing the pressure on team members to keep up appearances and spend an inordinate amount of personal money on clothing for work.

business and ensures that your team is on the same page.

• Team uniforms boost performance and sales

Your clothing represents your values, beliefs and purpose and helps others identify with you. In business, effective branding can make you appear more approachable, professional, and confident.

Often, this can make or break a sales opportunity. The company that takes the time to ensure their staff uniform represents the best version of their brand, culture and purpose are more likely to become industry leaders.

• Team uniforms promote loyalty

When your employees associate themselves with your brand, they are more likely to feel positive about it. By wearing your uniform or branded accessories in public, they become brand ambassadors. Team members will wake up each day and be reminded when getting dressed who they work for and what that represents. A good uniform will ensure employees are excited and motivated to get dressed and creates a feeling of team spirit and sense of belonging. A company uniform defines what you are about as a

Strong purpose and culture have a direct, positive impact on staff morale, sales, and performance. Communicating that message across multiple locations and even countries can be difficult, and a uniform is a key part of achieving consistency and confidence in messaging.

A company uniform defines what you are about as a business and ensures, regardless of where your team is based, that they are on the same page.

A well-designed uniform will remind team members getting dressed who they work for and what that represents.

A successful business will make sure that uniform resonates with what their company stands for, and that their staff are motivated to wear it with pride. ■

Pamela Jabbour is the founder and CEO of Total Image Group.

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In business, effective branding can make you appear more approachable, professional, and confident.

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Peach Disinfectant

Peach Disinfectant is a commercial grade disinfectant and multipurpose cleaner designed for use in healthcare, institutional and commercial facilities. Being pH neutral and solvent free, Peach Disinfectant is safe for use on most surfaces including plastics, metals, stainless steel, ceramics, glass, enamels, and painted surfaces. Peach Disinfectant can be used in any area where soiling is a problem, including floors, walls, bench tops, doors, etc. Peach Disinfectant passes TGA option C at 50mL/L water. Peach Disinfectant is available in a 5-litre bottle and has a refillable 500ml trigger spray bottle.

Whiteley Corporation 1800 833 566

marketing@whiteley.com.au

Z Water – Safe and chemical free cleaning

Z Water is a purified pH12.5 ionised alkaline water made with advance Japanese technology that is chemical free and requires no rinsing after use. It cleans, deodorizes, and sanitises at the same time. Using electrolysis, the Z Water generator produces 20 litres of Z water per hour. Z Water has no colour compounds, no odours, non-sticky and no foam up during use. Z Water is the perfect cleaning agent on areas that are sensitive to conventional cleaning chemicals, such as childcare centres, hospitals, F&B outlets, and theatre seats. Professional cleaners love Z Water as it cleans many surfaces. It’s safer and leaves no residue after cleaning. Surfaces cleaned with Z Water, being free of chemical residue, stay cleaner longer. Free demonstration available.

Central Cleaning Supplies 1300 347 347

sales@centralcleaning.com.au

SPRiNTUS ERA PRO 13-Litre Dry Commercial Vacuum Cleaner

Available from Cleanstar and winner of the 2022 INCLEAN Excellence Award Innovation Equipment (Large), the ERA PRO dry vacuum cleaner by SPRiNTUS is made in Europe and sets a new benchmark in professional cleaning. The ERA PRO is the world’s first digital dry vacuum cleaner with integrated Bluetooth connection and a cloud-based fleet management system. The SPRiNTUS browser-based fleet management system allows you to centrally manage all ERA PRO dry vacuum cleaners. The ERA PRO 13-Litre Dry Commercial Vacuum Cleaner features:

` Powerful and energy saving 700watt motor

` H13 HEPA filtration

` Quiet operation - 49-54 LpA (dB)

` Light weight at 5.7kg

Contact Cleanstar for nearest in-store or online distributor.

Cleanstar (03) 94605655 sales@cleanstar.com.au www.cleanstar.com.au

Aussie’s world class blaster

A new version of Australian Pumps range of coldwater pressure cleaners has been released. Called the Aussie Scud 400 HR, the new version of this popular 4,000 psi blaster sports a compact stainlesssteel high-pressure hose reel with up to 30m of Aussie Blue Pro hose. The machine, mounted in a stainless-steel Scud frame, has four large steel wheels with flat free tyres. Powered by a Honda 13hp recoil or electric start diesel engine (options), the pump’s pressure and flow power comes from a ‘Big Berty’ gearbox drive pump running at 1450 rpm. With the convenience of a stainless-steel reel, the machine looks great and can-do bigger jobs faster, safer!

Aussie Pumps www.aussiepumps.com.au

sebo.com.au

POWERHEADS | CRB MACHINE | UPRIGHTS | BARRELS | POLISHER

Waterking 30-litre wet and dry commercial vacuum cleaner

The Waterking wet and dry vacuum with H13 HEPA filtration is ideal for commercial cleaners. The ergonomically designed machine displays outstanding performance on a range of surfaces and suction power can be adapted to any kind of flooring. With the integrated blower function, filters and work benches can be blown clean, or wet surfaces dried quickly.

Key features:

` Powerful 1300-watt motor

` Cyclonic Water Separation System

` Quiet operation - 68 dB(A)

` Durable and lightweight at 7.8kg

` Volume flow rate - 70L/sec

` 2.5m suction hose length

` 7.5m power cord length

Cleanstar (03) 94605655 sales@cleanstar.com.au www.cleanstar.com.au

Tile Plus

Tile Plus is a water soluble, concentrated alkaline detergent designed for use as a heavy-duty cleaner and degreaser. It rapidly emulsifies, suspends, and removes all types of animal, vegetable, and petroleum oils. It is also extremely efficient at removing greases and grime in industrial, commercial, and food processing areas. Tile Plus has a corrosion inhibitor to protect surfaces and equipment, it does not impart any cleaning odours and is non-flammable. Tile plus is available in a 5-litre pack size.

Bonastre Pads

Polish floors in three easy steps, only with water. No harsh chemicals, just a combination of unique pads impregnated with diamond particles, and water – that’s the secret of Bonastre Pads success in creating mirror finish floors, in just three easy steps Easy to use with most floor machines, simply attached the graded coloured pads and follow the easy steps to rejuvenate worn floors to a sparkling gloss shine. Environmentally friendly and available in many sizes. Onsite demonstration available.

NEW Comac CS140T Sweeper

Available exclusively at Godfreys Commercial, the industrial cleaning machine experts have announced the launch of the Comac CS140T Sweeper. Specifically developed and engineered to clean urban and industrial areas, this machine has an integral steering system on all four wheels for maximum manoeuvrability.

Patented ‘Twin Action’ technology combines the efficiency of two sweeping machines in one compact high-performing unit. The innovative function includes the central brush and two screw conveyors which operate simultaneously with a suction operation to guarantee maximum adaptability in dirt collection.

Godfreys Commercial www.godfreyscommercial.com.au

Floory 11-litre dry commercial vacuum cleaner

Swift compact, and reliable, the German-made Floory 11-litre dry commercial vacuum cleaner, with integrated Bluetooth connection and a cloud-based fleet management system, is available from Cleanstar. Lightweight at 4.2kg, the Floory features a powerful and energy saving 700-watt motor, 7-litre dust bag capacity, variable suction control, and detachable power cord and on-board tool/rod storage. The Floory also features:

` Quiet operation - 60 LpA (dB)

Digital Signage Monitors

A great addition to any site, the Digital Signage Monitors from Central Cleaning Supplies will help to transform how you communicate with your customers.

These displays are easily customisable by yourself to display any messages that you want to convey. They are battery powered and portable, which means you can take it anywhere to display notifications such as “cleaning in progress” or move them to reception to use as branding or information screens. ` 43-inch digital signage ` HD Display –1080 x 1920 pixels ` Portable – wheels and handles for easy moving

NEW RapidClean’s chemical solutions

RapidClean has announced the launch of 10 new products to its range of cleaning solutions. The products feature an innovative wrap-around label design and products deemed safe for use in food preparation areas feature a food safety symbol. All RapidClean products feature a QR code which links to SDS and product information ensuring cleaners have access to dilution, usage, and safety information. RapidClean’s new chemicals include:

` RapidClean Sani-Clean (Hand and surface sanitiser)

` RapidClean Bright (Stainless steel cleaner and polish)

` RapidClean R.F.S Concentrate (Rinse free sanitiser concentrate)

` RapidClean M.A.C (Multi-purpose acid cleaner)

` RapidClean Mould N Moss (Mould, moss, and algae remover)

` RapidClean Crystal (Premium glass cleaner)

` RapidClean Eucalypt (Disinfectant cleaner)

` RapidClean Aqua Wash (Premium laundry powder)

` RapidClean Ultra Enzyme (Antibacterial laundry powder) ` RapidClean Gritty (Industrial grit-based hand soap)

Camill Electric Utility Vehicles

Meet the fleet of Camill Electric Utility Vehicles. They are environmentally friendly and helps to minimise our carbon footprint. Noise levels are also greatly reduced during operation. What really sets this fleet apart is the extensiveness of the range, from transport vehicles, to sweepers, to garbage trucks and pressure washers. Each category also comprises of various models to fit different job requirements. No matter the job or the size, there’s bound to be a Camill Electric Utility Vehicle that can help make heavy work easy on your site. Free demonstration and custom branding available.

Central

U.S. Battery Deep-Cycle Batteries

Operate your floor machine reliably with U.S. Battery Deep-Cycle Batteries. Available in 6-volt, 8-volt, and 12-volt sizes, U.S. Battery have sizes and configurations for any type of floor machine. Switching to U.S. Battery will give you longer operating time with their ability to be deeply discharged and spend less time waiting with their faster recharge. Maintaining their peak capacity for long periods between charges means greater vehicle reliability and lower annual operating costs. U.S. Battery Deep Cycle batteries are constructed with Diamond Plate Technology giving them a longer cycle life and durability, resulting in less replacements over your equipment’s lifetime. U.S. Battery, available exclusively from R&J Batteries stores or selected distributors across Australia and New Zealand.

PEUGEOT Expert van fuels your cleaning commute

Clean up at the petrol pump with PEUGEOT Expert van, driven by a fuel-efficient, yet powerful PEUGEOT 2.0L HDi turbo diesel engine. As petrol prices trend upwards, you need a van that delivers on all levels to make your job easier and more efficient. The Expert Van is a super capable workhorse with car-like driving dynamics, an ergonomically designed i-Cockpit with intuitive dashboard layout and seamless technology. The generous cargo design also looks are your wellbeing with practical and easy access to your load, while advanced onboard safety features protect you during those long days on the road.

PEUGEOT www.peugeot.com.au

U-Remove

U-Remove is a unique stain and odour remover that utilises advanced biologically active ingredients to digest and consume organic soilage and uric salts left by urine, vomit, and faeces in carpets, underlay, mattresses, curtains and synthetic grass. With a pleasant fresh fragrance to help mask unwanted smells, the good bacteria in the aqueous solution keep on digesting the stains until the soilage is gone. U-Remove is also effective on hard surfaces such as concrete, brick, wood, walls and floors and is ideal for areas where recurring urine odours are an issue.

ERA EVO13-litre dry vacuum cleaner by SPRiNTUS

NEW N51 vacuum cleaner with drain pump

Available from Cleanstar, the N51/1 KPS, with its 50-litre container volume, is ideal for tough, professional use. The integrated pump with a flow volume of up to 14,000 litres per hour can be directly attached to the vacuum’s power socket. A filter net prevents leaves, wood, and smaller objects from entering the container and prevents blockages. The N51/1 KPS can also be used as a normal vacuum cleaner and achieves a suction power of 230 mbar. Other key features:

Robust container made of impact-proof plastic

Total power - 2200 Watts

Device - 1300W / Pump - 900W

Trolley handle for easy transportation

Wet floor nozzle (360mm wide)

Central Cleaning Supplies Nitrile Gloves

New from Central Cleaning Supplies is a range of disposable Nitrile Gloves that are ideal for use in many types of applications. They are latex free, chemical resistant, ambidextrous, and finger textured. Available powder free in packs of 100, blue or black and in sizes ranging from small, medium, large, to extra-large.

Central Cleaning Supplies

1300 347 347 sales@centralcleaning.com.au www.centralcleaning.com.au

Mr Bean

Mr Bean is an easy-to-use concentrated water-based air-freshener, general purpose cleaner and commercial grade disinfectant! Mr Bean has a pleasant fragrance, is safe for use on most surfaces and can be used in any area where soil build up is a problem, including floors, walls, benchtops, doors. The long-lasting residual action of Mr Bean makes it excellent for use as an all-in-one cleaner!

Whiteley Corporation

1800 833 566 marketing@whiteley.com.au

Mould-X

Mould-X is a powerful mould exterminator designed to destroy mould and mildew at the source from areas found in homes, offices, roofs, driveways, paths, brickwork, and sandstone. Boosted with chlorine for added strength, Mould-X offers superb performance and a simple solution to mould remediation: a ready-to-use product strong enough to get the job done effectively and efficiently. Simply spray the product onto the surface, work it into all the crevices, leave it to penetrate for ten minutes, and then wipe it clean. Mould-X is fortified with caustic alkalis and detergents that make it an excellent cleaner to provide a thorough clean and complete mould removal. With the capacity to handle almost any hard surface indoors and out, Mould-X is a must-have for any cleaners servicing mould or weatherprone areas.

Agar Cleaning Systems

1800 301 302 sales@agar.com.au agar.com.au