Industry bodies ask Government for key policy changes
By British Cleaning Council (BCC) Deputy Chair, David Garcia. (This column first appeared in Tomorrow’s Cleaning magazine).
In the run up to the General Election, we launched a mini-manifesto setting out the cleaning, hygiene and waste industry’s priorities to help create a resilient UK and the areas where we are seeking the next Government’s support to achieve this vital objective.
We are ready to work collaboratively with the next Government to ensure that cleaning and hygiene policy, law and regulation is directed specifically at preparing to protect public health both in advance of, and in the event of, another pandemic, as well as protecting the health and wealth of the nation.
We do not support any particular political party or candidate. Every party needs to recollect the large number of lives lost and the significant impact on many families and society at large arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and commit to take steps to ensure lessons are learned and there is no recurrence.
The key points of the manifesto are:
· The urgent establishment of a joint Government/cleaning, hygiene and waste industry preparedness team to plan for public health emergencies.
· Agreement between Government and industry on the minimum levels of cleaning materials, equipment and PPE that should both be held in reserve and be able to be manufactured rapidly in emergency situations.
· In the event of another pandemic, Key Worker status must be bestowed upon cleaning operatives and on staff working in cleaning product supply and manufacturing.
· Urgent consideration must be given to making cleaning staff eligible for the Skilled Worker Visa scheme.
· Minimum standards should be agreed for the provision of cleaning and hygiene infrastructure across a wide variety of key venues.
· A standard qualification for cleaning should be developed within the Apprenticeship Levy.
· Government communications around hygiene in times of public health concerns or national emergencies should be clear, consistent, sustained, timely, relevant and specific.
The nearly £60bn cleaning, hygiene and waste industry is one of the largest and most important sectors in the UK and it is essential that any incoming Government engages with us, listens to and acts on these recommendations.
Other BCC members have also argued the case for the next Government to adopt key policies. These include the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), which released its Manifesto for Pest Management aimed at protecting people from the disease, destruction, and distress pests can cause.
The four key asks are:
· Developing a PestSafe scheme to proactively keep homes pest-free.
· Reassessing the GB Biocidal Products Regulations fee structure to ensure new and existing pest management products are available and reviewing chemical regulations to encourage innovation.
· Restricting professional tools to professional users by requiring professional pest controllers to be licensed to practice.
· Specifying that all Government-controlled estates must choose a TrustMark registered ‘Government-endorsed quality’ pest management company, wherever possible.
The manifesto is now available to download on www.bpca.org.uk/policy
Another BCC member, the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has set out ten policies it wants the next UK Government to implement designed to accelerate the transition to a more resource resilient and circular economy capable of meeting future material demands and supporting the battle against climate change.
Policy asks are split into policies needed in the first two years of the next Parliament and those to be delivered in years three to five.
Recommended policies for the first two years include:
· Implementing existing Resources & Waste Strategy for England policies which are only currently part-way through implementation.
· Creating a cross-government resource resilience task force.
· Launching a Green Skills Fund.
· Introducing targeted Extended Producer Responsibility for several key product types.
· Introducing targets across the top half of the waste hierarchy (prevention, reuse, repair).
Find out more here www.circularonline.co.uk/briefing-papers/ciwms-10-policy-recommendations-for-the-uk-government
Preparation and practice are the key to passing the apprenticeship test
Chris James is the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management’s (CIWM) representative on the BCC board as well as an assessor for the new Level 2 Cleaning Hygiene Operative Apprenticeship. Below, he gives some expert advice to sector staff to help them pass the assessment at the end of apprenticeship training. (This column first appeared in Cleaning and Maintenance online).
If there was one thing I would say to cleaning and hygiene operatives coming forward for end-point assessment for the apprenticeship it is ‘prepare and practice’! OK, two things, both equally important.
Once you have completed the apprenticeship training, your employer, often in consultation with your training provider, will tell you that they think you are ready for the test, or to give it proper title, the end point assessment.
It is important to understand that it is delivered independently of your employer or training provider, by people you will not know. Please accept they are industry experts and are actually very human, and want to provide you with every chance of being successful. I would say don’t worry, but you will, even if only a bit. The best way to reduce worry is to prepare and practice.
So… you have an upcoming multiple choice question paper! Please remember your photo ID to prove identity even if the test is online. You will face 24 questions in an hour. It’s about what you know. It is closed book test, meaning you cannot refer to your notes. It is based on what you have learned and, after revising, can remember. Remember, there is only one right answer to a question. There will be four options, one correct and three which are incorrect. Take your time, read the question carefully and because you will have practiced and revised, it will be clear which one is correct. Most apprentices are OK with this test. If you do not pass first time you can always have another go following more revision.
The next part of the assessment will generally be at your place of work. It will be observation with questions and will take two hours. You will be using equipment and materials you are familiar with. Your employer, training provider and assessor will make sure you have everything you need to succeed. But I cannot stress enough the need to practice and perfect your cleaning techniques using recognised industry methods. Equally, know how and when to use PPE and COSHH Safety Data Sheets; know how to carry out checks to make sure equipment is safe to use. And another thing – preparation and use of cleaning agents is a key element. Practice dilution of cleaning chemicals into a variety of different sized containers until you are certain of what to do and how to do it.
Because it is important, you are given the chance to show all of the skills required in the time allowed, the assessor may direct you. For example, she may say: “Thank you for cleaning this area. I would now like you to prepare and move to cleaning a toilet area.” This is commonly included because of the need for a close focus on the order of cleaning and prevention of cross- contamination, colour coding etc. From time to time the assessor will ask you questions about what you are doing, to make sure that you know why you are doing it. For example: “Can you tell me why you are using a red cloth in this area?”
Throughout the observed practical assessment, the assessor will try to remain in the background, recording your performance. This may be as notes, audio, photos or even video, depending on location and constraints. Once this is over, the assessor will have a few more questions for you, some based on what they saw you do and others which are more general.
As before, if you do not pass this part of the assessment first time you can retrain and try again.
The third part of the assessment is a number of set questions. It will take 30 minutes and can be daunting. I always try to put the apprentice at ease and start with questions which are generally accessible. Rehearse this a number of times before the actual assessment so you will be prepared and familiar with talking about your work and what you know. Personally, I would always use my phone on a tripod to video the assessment as well as taking notes, since this would always take place in a quiet private space.
If you do not understand a question, ask for it to be repeated. Most assessors will try and re-phrase it in a way to help you understand.
‘Simples’ as they say.
I will finish as I started with a single crucial piece of advice. Prepare and practice. I could bore you with details of the exceptional performances I have been able to observe as well as the dire. The best always prepare, practice and rehearse. I would say good luck, but I prefer to say, ‘good preparation!’
For more information about the apprenticeship standard, visit www.britishcleaningcouncil.org/apprenticeships
Let’s help address hygiene poverty
By British Cleaning Council Chair Delia Cannings. (This column first appeared in Tomorrow’s Cleaning magazine).
Most of us take being clean and hygienic for granted. We have access to all the toiletries and products we need to ensure the clothes we wear are regularly washed and we can shower and brush our teeth every day.
Good personal hygiene is essential to stop yourself falling ill or spreading germs to others. It helps you feel and look better. In children, better hygiene leads to better health, confidence and overall growth.
But across the UK, an estimated three million people or more are not so lucky. Families are caught between being able to heat their home, pay their bills, buy food or keep clean and in this situation, soap, shampoo, toothpaste and cleaning products are sacrificed to even more basic needs.
Those who cannot afford cleanliness and hygiene suffer from hygiene poverty, which often causes shame, stigma, self-isolation, social exclusion and mental health issues.
Being clean is such a basic human need that the first sign that a family is falling into crisis is often when they can’t afford to buy these essential products.
A survey earlier this year published by charity The Hygiene Bank found that 24 per cent of people thought to be experiencing hygiene poverty were regularly struggling to wash their clothes and 29 per cent had to prioritise food instead.
Another report from The Hygiene Bank last year showed that 72 per cent of school staff thought there had been an increase in hygiene poverty in their school and 71 per cent expected the level to rise further.
Pupils are arriving in class with dirty clothes, unwashed hair and unbrushed teeth, which is leaving them low self-esteem and impacting their mental health.
As a result, these pupils might be left with no desk partner in class or face bullying. I’m sure many children would be tempted to skip school altogether rather than face that, which in turn endangers their educational prospects.
The recent cost of living crisis has squeezed those families previously managing to keep their heads above water with the result that we are now close to a public health and hygiene emergency.
It is appalling that in a country as rich as the UK is, so many are struggling to maintain basic standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
This is an area where the cleaning and hygiene sector is in a position to make a real difference to the most vulnerable in our society, by supporting The Hygiene Bank.
Charity The Hygiene Bank was founded in 2018 to address hygiene poverty, by directing donations of essential hygiene products to organisations supporting those in poverty. It has grown hugely and in 2023 distributed well over 300,000kgs of products.
The donations consist mainly of new, unused, in-date personal care and household cleaning essentials.
Cleaning and hygiene sector firms have already been supporting The Hygiene Bank and I want to say a very big thank you to the businesses and staff who have already backed this worthy cause.
I appeal to more industry businesses to get involved. If you represent a cleaning and hygiene business producing any of the products which are so badly needed, please think about donating what you can.
The charity will accept a range of products such as, for example, shampoo, conditioner, face and body wash, deodorant, laundry detergent, sponges, cloths, household cleaning items, loo roll, tissues, cleaning wipes, washing up liquid, toilet cleaner, polish and sprays.
There are also other ways for people to support The Hygiene Bank, such as fundraising, donating or volunteering.
Find out more by visiting www.thehygienebank.com