Effective hygiene

The cleaning and hygiene sector needs to be recognised as a key, frontline service, found a cross party report by MPs into the role of cleaning and hygiene during COVID. We spoke to some key stakeholders for their views on the findings of the report and how the recommendations may be taken forward

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Cleaning and Hygiene Industry was inaugurated in February 2021 to promote the critical importance of the cleaning and hygiene industry in the UK. The APPG comprises 53 MPs and two Members of the House of Lords, and is supported by the industry body for the entire sector and APPG secretariat, the British Cleaning Council (BCC) and the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH).

Last Autumn, the APPG commenced a review, entitled ‘Embedding Effective Hygiene for a Resilient UK’, looking into the role of cleaning and hygiene and the associated challenges, during the pandemic. The inquiry was held to examine the strengths and weaknesses in the national approach to cleaning and hygiene which became evident during and beyond the pandemic. It also discussed what lessons can be learnt and what changes might be made by various stakeholders to increase national resilience and preparedness against both any future pandemic event and the ongoing threat of common infections.

A summary of the recommendations was published in December 2022 and included 11 recommendations for Government, regulators and the industry itself:

PREPAREDNESS ISSUES

• A joint Government-industry preparedness team should be established to draw up a plan which defines how cleaning and hygiene requirements will be resourced and implemented in all key locations in time of emergency.
• Based upon the plan, minimum levels of the cleaning materials and equipment most commonly called upon in emergencies should be defined by both sectoral user and supplier, and their on-call availability ensured.
• Government and the cleaning product supply industry should investigate the feasibility and logistics of ensuring that capacity to facilitate increased production in the event of a pandemic can be made readily available.
• It should be agreed that in the event of any future pandemic, Key Frontline Worker status must be bestowed upon commercial cleaning and hygiene operatives working in defined key venues and also upon personnel in the cleaning products production and supply sectors.
• Urgent consideration must be given to making cleaning staff eligible for the Skilled Worker Visa scheme.

RESILIENCE ISSUES

• A defined set of high-level minimum standards for the provision of hand- and other hygiene infrastructure and of the depth and frequency of cleaning of diverse venue-types during non-pandemic/emergency situations should be agreed in collaboration between Government/regulators and the cleaning and building-management industries.
• A standard qualification for cleaning should be developed within the Apprenticeship Levy, to improve the quantity, quality and career prospects of people entering the cleaning industry.
• Training budgets for cleaning staff within both public and private enterprises should be adequate to keep the workforce refreshed and updated with the skills and techniques to properly perform their roles.
• Government communications to the public and to venue owners on the issue of hygienic practice and behaviour in times of pandemic or other emergency should be clear, consistent, sustained, timely, relevant and specific.
• Government-led communication campaigns based on behavioural science techniques should be deployed to widen and deepen public understanding of hygiene and establish a norm of adopting hygienic behaviour as part of everyday life.
• The Government should actively endorse and support the cleaning and hygiene industry in communicating widely to promote a realignment in societal perceptions of the cleaning and hygiene industry.