Across the world, the outbreak of COVID-19 has forced the cleaning industry to adapt faster than ever before, as cleanliness and hygiene are pushed higher up the agenda as a means of controlling the spread of the virus. France is no exception. At ISS France, our cleaning expertise and robust processes have helped ensure our customers – and our people – remain safe.
We caught up with Yanis Lalia, Cleaning Excellence Expert, to discuss the precautions ISS France has put in place to quickly and efficiently respond to the pandemic.
Cleaning on the frontline
As companies slowly begin to allow employees back into their workplaces after months of working from home, there has been a marked focus on implementing cleaning solutions that support healthy buildings. For ISS, this meant introducing a range of processes and precautions to keep their customers and staff safe, applying many years of knowledge from working in healthcare facilities and clean room environments.
“As a company, we had to review all our processes and search for efficient and innovative solutions in light of the pandemic risk,” says Yanis. “This meant adhering and adapting our cleaning protocols to suit the government’s COVID-19 recommendations, while prioritising the health of our customers, employees and the environment.”
“Communication was vital during this period, so we created a dedicated COVID-19 website that was updated in real-time to give all our employees, managers and clients access to ISS recommendations in the management of our services.”
Making workplaces safe again
One of the main focuses for ISS has been to craft workplaces that make the return to work smooth and care-free for employees across the world. At the heart of this approach is a new product, PURE SPACE, that aims to help employees reconnect with their work environments by ensuring a hygienic, safe place to work.
The benefits are two-fold: companies are able to bring employees back to a work environment that meets a higher standard of hygiene, while restoring their employees’ confidence in the safety of the workplace. Instead of simply measuring the level of cleanliness with our eyes, PURE SPACE uses technology to provide visible, scientific proof that a space is clean – thereby offering employees peace of mind.
In addition to this, ISS trained ‘hygiene stewards’ to clean and disinfect workplaces during working hours and encourage employees to follow guidelines on hygiene and social distancing. For example, helping employees limit the spread of germs in reception or canteen areas, or informing them on how to disinfect their mobile phones.
