SECURITY


CLEANING’S CRIMINAL CONCERN


Levels of security vetting need to


be improved across the professional cleaning industry, to safeguard both


the facilities being cleaned, and the cleaning


operatives themselves, says Julius Rutherfoord’s Operations Director Chris Parkes.


The security challenges of contract cleaning come from many different directions, in an industry where operatives often work alone or in small teams, and access facilities outside of normal working hours. There have been a number of cases of security lapses in contract cleaning that have damaged the industry’s reputation over the years. These include a recent case of a burglar who had been posing as a cleaner in London, and stole £17,000 worth of office equipment and cash from facilities he had tricked his way in to.


This particular case was a lone wolf criminal masquerading as a cleaner, but there can be no doubt that contract cleaning companies need to step up their security vetting procedures. During the initial security screening of staff Julius Rutherfoord inherits through theT


ransfer of Undertakings


process, the company often rejects between 20% and 40% due to forged or out-of-date IDs. Fake documents simply should not get through if rigorous security vetting procedures are in place, and we are passionate about tackling this issue in the industry.


As well as the risk of theft or damage to property that can result from poor security vetting, there are other serious concerns around issues such as terrorism, the personal safety of other staff in the building, and the safety and wellbeing of cleaning operatives themselves.


46 | TOMORROW’S FM


Hundreds of thousands of people work illegally in the UK, and unscrupulous employers have taken advantage of this in the past. The Home Office estimates there are 13,000 victims and survivors of modern slavery in the UK. This is a truly astonishing and disturbing statistic. Tough new penalties have been introduced under the UK’s 2015 Modern Slavery Act to tackle this problem.


“A BURGLAR POSING AS A CLEANER IN LONDON STOLE


£17,000 WORTH OF OFFICE EQUIPMENT AND CASH.”


The pioneering legislation gives police officers and other enforcement agencies the tools they need to crack down on employers exploiting and enslaving workers, and to support victims. It is the first legislation of its kind in Europe, and promises penalties for offenders, including life jail sentences and enforced business closure.


The cleaning industry has a reputation for a high staff turnover, and while the best contract cleaners will have a progressive attitude towards their workforce – to improve staff retention and safety – there are other dishonest agencies that do not. Forced labour and domestic servitude are highlighted as


examples of modern slavery, and it is important that the cleaning industry takes responsibility for safeguarding its employees against this type of injustice.


There are some examples of managers who know that their staff are working illegally, and take advantage of that fact – such as the case of managers at an NHS cleaning company that were arrested on suspicion of blackmailing staff that they knew were working illegally.


We all have responsibilities to ensure that facilities being cleaned and cleaning operatives themselves stay safe. At Julius Rutherfoord, we are passionate about maintaining meticulously high standards in everything we do, including security vetting and staff safeguarding. Everyone has the right to work in secure environments, and taking extra steps to be certain that cleaners are who they say they are, and have the right to legally work in the UK, is key to safeguarding them, as well as the facility they are cleaning. Estates and facilities managers should be asking their cleaning supplier about their security vetting procedures and the legality of their workforce.


Julius Rutherfoord has used its expert insight to inform a new best practice white paper, Security in Cleaning together with an accompanying infographic to highlight the challenges of ensuring the safety and security of facilities being cleaned and the operatives cleaning them. The guide also provides a useful checklist for facilities managers to follow.


www.julius-r.co.uk twitter.com/TomorrowsFM


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62