Cleanliness is a critical issue

Cleaning isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity – whatever line of business you are in. Whether you run a residential home, restaurant, shop, gym, school or office building, you have a duty of care to your staff, customers, visitors and service users to provide hygienic, safe and clean facilities consistently and constantly.

Two recent stories in the media have brought the importance of cleaning and hygiene into sharp focus. The Edinburgh Legionnaires’ outbreak had tragic consequences, claiming two lives at the time of writing, and affecting many others. A firm thought to be linked to the outbreak was subsequently ordered by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to thoroughly clean one of its cooling towers.

On a more positive note, a report published on the British Medical Journal (BMJ) website at the beginning of May showed that the ‘Clean Your Hands’ campaign to improve hand hygiene in hospitals in England and Wales contributed to a significant fall in the rates of ‘superbug’ infections. The campaign was introduced in all hospitals in June 2005 and, by 2008, the report revealed that the total amount of soap and alcohol gel purchased by hospitals had trebled – and that during the same period rates of MRSA more than halved and C. diff infections fell by more than 40%.

These two stories prove just how crucial cleaning and hygiene is to the well-being of individuals. Organisations – both public and private – are facing huge financial pressures in the current climate and are looking to make savings wherever they can. However, cutting the cleaning budget is a very dangerous option, which can, in extreme circumstances, have fatal consequences. Our cleaning industry is rapidly evolving, and the level of skills, commitment and quality of service is constantly improving. By working closely in partnership with their cleaning contractors, businesses can ensure that the highest standards are maintained, even in these uncertain economic times. The message, therefore, is clear – cutting your cleaning budget could cost you dearly.

Tomorrow’s Cleaning – July 2012 @TomoCleaning

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