(
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jangrott)
people’s contact with pathogens such as COVID-19 have been formally abandoned or informally downplayed. They're most effective when used in combination with each other in a coordinated approach to infection prevention, the session was informed.
This relaxation leads to an increased risk of transmission of COVID – which remains a significant threat – and of other air- and surface-borne pathogens like influenza and norovirus, making the retention and wide adoption of a selected but critical number of measures such as targeted hygiene increasingly important.
a significant, demonstrable and tangible increase in continuous improvement and innovation involving the use of technology and sophisticated equipment.
The industry also experienced significant difficulties in procuring the materials necessary to fully and properly perform its role. Protective ‘ringfencing’ of supplies and issues caused by ‘pop-up’ product supply companies mean strategic procurement arrangements are needed.
Industry representatives warned that, if not addressed, severe staff shortages in the sector would lead to a reduction in hygiene standards, with a consequent impact on public health and commercial confidence.
The industry felt strongly that its members had paid large sums through the Apprenticeship Levy without being able to utilise any significant benefit, and that accreditation of the proposals for an Apprenticeship Levy-funded industrywide training programme and apprenticeship was now an essential component of a strategy to ensure a steady stream of properly-qualified and trained people joining the industry.
The session heard that there were sharp differences in cleaning and hygiene practice between neighbouring, similar types of establishments at a time when consistent high standards should have simplified provision and increased protection against infection.
For targeted hygiene to work effectively, it requires adequate ‘infrastructure’ to enable hand hygiene to be properly practised, and user understanding and willingness to comply, the session was told.
These conditions can both be effectively achieved through the use of partnership working, with the cleaning and hygiene sector as principal partner. A local authority Director of Public Health should take the lead on building these partnerships.
The session was told that to secure public understanding and buy-in, and achieve sustained compliance with good hygienic practice, the use of traditional and non-traditional behavioural science approaches may be required to secure attention and understanding, and overcome ‘hygiene fatigue’.
11 October: Session two
This session was told that the UK cleaning industry is worth nearly £59bn and employs 1.47 million people, making it a ‘Top 10’ employer, with 21% migrant workers compared to an 18% UK average.
It's unacceptable that cleaning and hygiene operatives weren’t recognised as key workers throughout the pandemic, despite performing a vital role in which they were arguably frontline workers given they prepared safe buildings for key workers. It's a symptom of a wider culture of lack of regard for the industry and its role.
Similarly, there’s a misperception that the industry is all about ‘mops and buckets’ when there has been
The sudden and extremely large spike in demand for cleaning and sanitisation products and ‘pop-up’ companies which the pandemic created was logistically problematic, particularly in the short-term, the session heard. The degree to which the UK is dependent on overseas suppliers for the supply of products was raised as a concern.
Cleaning staff should also be regarded as key or frontline workers in any future pandemic, as their efforts are essential to helping ensure that places and spaces are kept clean and hygienic for key requirements.
18 October: Session three
The final session heard of issues with Government advice on cleaning and hygiene to colleges. Updates were frequent but often delayed, short on detail, reactive and sometimes contradictory. Advice did not always take account of the nature of some educational establishments, student groups and classes.
In colleges, there's still no specific advice as to what hygiene standards to achieve and what procedures to follow so as to assure good practice. No specific advice or resources were provided in respect of public conveniences. A widespread initial reaction was simply to close facilities, at a time when they were needed for handwashing.
The session heard that some central standards setting out the required standard of cleanliness for public facilities, schools and workplaces would help to improve consistency and user confidence.
For a free copy of the APPG report, please email compsec@
britishcleaningcouncil.org.
www.britishcleaningcouncil.org (
www.allergystandards.academy/healthier-buildings-awareness-with-GBAC)
www.tomorrowscleaning.com WHAT’S NEW? | 7
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
