FM Update BESCA Vent Hygiene Scheme Shortlisted for Industry Award


Certification body BESCA, part of the wider BESA Group, was today announced as a 2020 finalist for the HVAC Initiative of the Year category of the prestigious H&V News Awards


for its Ventilation Hygiene Elite


(VHE) scheme. The VHE scheme is based on BESA’s long-established and industry recognised specification and guide to good practice TR19®. The scheme is developed by the industry, for the industry and is approved and administered by BESCA, who will audit firms’ work to help raise standards and ensure they are maintained. It enables contractors to improve the


service they offer clients by demonstrating the


highest TR19® conformity level with of Certificate compliance industry and


competence. Completed works receive a


demonstrating standards


giving clients complete peace of mind. BESCA’s Director of Certification Rachel


Davidson said: ‘It’s a great privilege for BESCA to receive this recognition as a finalist. ‘With building owners, operators and becoming more


insurers aware of the


fire risks posed by poorly cleaned and maintained systems, there has been growing demand for a robust process to verify the quality of cleaning – particularly of grease extract systems used by commercial


kitchens,’ said Ms Davidson. ‘As a result, the vent hygiene market is booming. However, this has attracted some non-specialist hygiene providers who do not necessarily understand their responsibilities or the importance


of delivering clean


giving good advice and proper post-clean reporting to clients.’


‘The VHE scheme is a win-win for the contractor, and


insurers, commercial kitchens.’ systems,


The winners will be announced at the H&V News Awards on 30 April 2020 at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, London.


building employees in and residents


operators above


and


The importance of hygiene in preventing infection Poor toilet hygiene responsible for the spread of key antibiotic resistant E. coli strains


Experts at Public Health England have found that human to human transmission, likely due to people not washing their hands after going to the toilet, is behind the spread of key antibiotic resistant strains of E. coli. The study, published in the respected medical journal, Lancet Infectious Diseases, points to the crucial importance of proper hand washing and drying following a visit to


the toilet in preventing the spread of infection. Some E. coli produce enzymes (ESBLs) that destroy penicillin and other related antibiotics in common use. E. coli is the most common cause of blood poisoning, frequently causes urinary tract infections and sometimes also food poisoning. Some 80% of illnesses are transmitted by our hands. We each touch literally


hundreds of objects every day – from door handles, seats and hand rails through to lift buttons and money. Effective hand washing and drying following a visit to the toilet are the first line of defence in minimising infection risks. The whole process should take at least 20 seconds and hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and dried with single use towels – the most hygienic way to prevent disease and transmission of microbes. Expert bacteriologists undertaking laboratory and real-life studies on hand drying as part of the hand washing process have found that electric dryers contaminate both the air and surfaces with antibiotic- resistant bacteria and viruses including MRSA, enterobacteria


and in France,


which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. A multisite study in hospital washrooms Italy and UK concluded that


paper towels offer the most hygienic way to dry hands and minimise the spread of infection, and experts are already advising the use of paper towels and discouraging the use of electric hand dryers in hospitals.


04 fmuk


enterococci,


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