“In the ‘new normal’, it won’t be acceptable
anymore for a surface to look clean, it will have to
be scientifically clean and evidence will have to be provided.”
industry. Principle Window and High-Level Cleaning, since its inception in 2013, has wanted to attract and retain the best staff and as well as paying the correct rates, which has enabled the business to attract staff of all nationalities, with the intention at Broadgate to provide the most diverse, motivated and well rewarded team in the sector.
This aligned perfectly with Broadgate’s wishes and built into the contract are annual bonuses for all staff, paid personal development days and wellbeing days. These are where staff can be away from the workplace for a certain number of days each year and spend time for their benefit and development, in addition to the individual day-to-day training and development they need.
Sustainability and environment
The Broadgate campus boasts five BREEAM-certified green buildings and 17,500 sq ft of roof space. There’s a requirement for Principle to align with Broadgate’s values and ambitions in sustainability and the environment. Principle engaged with Philippa Roberts, a well-known leader in this field, and targets have been set for the measurement and reduction of the vertical cleaning carbon footprint on a site-specific basis.
The COVID pandemic
This was a different challenge, which came early in the contract and re-organisation was needed, involving a team of 17 staff within a week of the contract starting. Window cleaning teams are, however, used to dealing with challenges – working at height is demanding physically and mentally. Safety, working in all weathers, scheduling and achieving access are just a few of the things we face every day, but this was something unforeseen.
The team set about ‘fogging’ to help protect surfaces and then sought to provide evidence of their cleanliness. With the full backing and support of Broadgate, Principle created a process whereby cleaning is followed by an application of
www.tomorrowscleaning.com
sanitiser, providing long-term protection and the surface is then scored for cleanliness, providing data and evidence.
ATP testing
Broadgate and Principle set about measuring the amount of dirt/residue on surfaces. This has been done consistently, frequently and on a widespread basis to give Broadgate’s building users the reassurances that working surfaces are clean and likely to be free of any infection.
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) testing has been around for some years, particularly in the catering and health sectors, to measure bacteria and ensure safety in critical areas such as kitchens and operating theatres. The cleaning industry has been aware of the process for some time but in the current climate, there is an obvious need for confirmation so people can be confident that their access points, work areas and touchpoints are safe and sanitised.
Real benefit
With the electrostatic ‘fogging’ alongside the data being collected and baselines having been established, Broadgate and Principle have played a small part in leading the industry towards new standards of cleaning in the commercial sector.
In the ‘new normal’, it won’t be acceptable anymore for a surface to look clean, it will have to be scientifically clean and evidence will have to be provided. Some sanitisers can keep surfaces clean for longer and this ‘belt and braces’ approach has enabled Broadgate to reduce risk in the workplace.
It has been an initial nine-month period which none of us expected, but which has also created an opportunity for the industry to shine and innovate. This will provide benefits for many in the months and years to come.
www.principleclean.com
www.broadgate.co.uk
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