Industry News

Intersting News from Inclean Magazine

March 2010

Inclean Magazine is the leading Cleaning Industry (including Carpet Cleaning) Magazine in Australia. Inclean sends regular hard copy magazines to subscibers as well as sending industry e-news. You can easily subscribe to both services on the Inclean Website.

Some of the carpet cleaning industry recent items include:

CleanScene taking place in May 2010 in Albury

Jena Dyco will be exhibiting at the event and Felix Krivitsky will be speaking.

How to BRAND your cleaning business

It is important to think about you business BRAND in the market place. What reputation does it have? What does your brand say about you? Do you have a recognisable brand?

Using GREEN CLEANING as a marketing tool

Have you got a real POINT OF DIFFERENCE? What is it that interests your customers? What do they value? Maybe going green is something that will benefit your business.

Inclean magazine is always looking for interesting industry events, good news stories and opinions on different topical matters. If you think you have something that would be interesting please contact Inclean Magazine.

PPP pays off for students

February 2010

Nearly three quarters of job seekers trained under the Productivity Places Program (PPP) have gained employment or have continued with their studies.

The Outcomes from the Productivity Places Program report issued by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) shows that of the 23,000 job seekers trained under the PPP in 2008, including some highly disadvantaged jobseekers, 47 per cent have moved into employment after completing their training, while a further 26 per cent have continued their training.

The profile of PPP graduates supports the Government’s social inclusion agenda. More than 20 per cent have a disability and more than 34 per cent speak a language other than English at home.

Jena Dyco ran training for Certificate II and III in Asset Maintenance (Carpet Cleaning) funded by the Productivity Places Program between August 2008 and May 2009.

A copy of the report is available from the NCVER website .

Drafting of new regulations for workplace chemicals

February, 2010

Safe Work Australia has commenced the drafting of model regulations for workplace chemicals based on the National Standard for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals.

The introduction of the new draft Australian Criteria for the Classification of Hazardous Chemicals is to introduce to the Australian workplace the international classification criteria for classifying and labelling hazardous chemicals as contained in the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).

Find out more about the introduction of the new draft Australian Criteria for the Classification of Hazardous Chemicals.

Safe Work Australia's OH&S reforms

This work forms a part of the Government's broader OH&S reforms which will be formalised by mid-2011 to be adopted into each state’s OH&S jurisdiction.

The Draft National Standard for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals will be used as the policy basis for new model OH&S regulations for workplace chemicals.

Material Safety Data Sheets

All carpet cleaners are reminded that they must have Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for any chemicals they work with. Please contact Jena Dyco if you require MSDS for any chemicals related to carpet cleaning and restoration.

Mouldy buildings cause problems down the track

February 2010

Two separate mould-related incidents which occurred recently in the US emphasise the importance of offering mould remediation services.

A 39 year old fire fighter in Orlando, Florida, US has been awarded a $US 54,000 annual disability retirement following the discovery that poor air quality at the fire station where she worked was responsible for her debilitating respiratory problems, report local sources.

The poor air quality of Fire Station 9 in Orlando has been attributed to problems with mould and water intrusion, with health complaints from staff recorded as far back as 2000.

An inspection conducted by Certified Mold Consultants in May 2009 found fungal growth in the station's air conditioning system and ducts, as well as mould under the building, in crawl spaces and an office wall. The inspection also discovered one type of mould that can cause skin lesions, sinus and pulmonary infections.

Meanwhile, the discovery of $US 892, 500 worth of mould damage has deferred the bid opening for prospective operators of a resort and conference centre in Springfield, Illinois, US.

Local sources report that the $US 24, 236 mould study has caused the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to defer the bid opening for the Eagle Creek Resort and Conference Centre at Lake Shelbyville to 5 February, 2010.

Jena Dyco is bringing out IICRC mould remediation trainer Peter Sierck from the US for an Applied Microbial Remediation Course to be held on the 16 - 19 March in Melbourne. They are also holding a Mould Conference on the 20th of March. To enrol or find out more information about the course or conference, please contact Jena Dyco

Cleaners worth more than bankers

February 2010

Recent studies have found that hospital cleaners have been placed above city bankers in terms of their worth to society.

The United Kingdom's New Economics Foundation (NEF) report looks at the consequences of economic activities and reveals that City workers, advertising executives and tax advisers destroy financial wealth, while hospital cleaners, childcare worker and staff in the waste recycling industry all create a positive return to the British economy.

For example, advertising executives cost society by perpetuating over-consumption and creating socially and environmentally wasteful wants, while hospital cleaners alleviate the human and financial cost of hospital acquired infections and make a significant contribution to the wider social value created by healthcare.

The report found that hospital cleaners create more than $A20 in value for every $2 they receive in pay. In contrast, City bankers destroy $A14 of value for every $A2 they create.

Chief Executive of the Cleaning and Support Services Association in the UK Andrew Large said "It is widely accepted that the cleaning industry is a key factor in protecting patients from hospital acquired infections, but these findings demonstrate the additional economic value our industry creates."

Changes to Australian workplace relations laws

January 2010

All employers and employees should be aware of several important changes in Australia’s workplace laws, which came into effect on 1 January 2010.

Recent changes to the workplace laws include:

- Introducing new National Employment Standards (NES)

- Moving many employers in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia into the national workplace relations system.

- Introducing modern award rates which may affect the existing awards in your industry.

All employers should make themselves aware of these changes in order to protect themselves that from any penalties that non-compliance may occur. More information on the changes can be found at the Fair Work Australia website.

Setting new standards for the carpet cleaning industry

January, 2010

The IICRC has begun drafting the R800 Reference Guide for Carpet Inspection, which is expected to be completed by mid-2011.

The process will involve consulting with a special committee on a bi-annual basis. The committee will consist of industry volunteers.

Chairperson of the R800 Reference Guide Committee Bill Doan said "As with each new standard or reference guide the IICRC drafts, we're looking for professionals who are dedicated to moving this forward."

IICRC Standards Consultant Larry Cooper said that he is excited to be working on the new reference guide.

"Along with our partners in the industry, we know that the IICRC R800 will provide a needed resource for professionals," Mr Cooper said.