october 2013
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ÂTRANSCRIPT
ncca October 2013
The official journal of the National Carpet Cleaners Association
newslink
Features:
NCCA General Meeting 2013
Walking on Water
Contents
Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Association or it’s officers or members. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the statements within this publication, we cannot accept responsibility for any errors, or omissions, or matters arising from any clerical or printing errors, and whilst every care is taken of manuscripts and photographs submitted to us, we can accept no responsibility for any loss or damage.
newslink page 2
©Carpet Cleaners Association Ltd 1994 (Trading as the National Carpet Cleaners Association). No part of this Newsletter may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Carpet Cleaners Association Ltd.
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From the Editor: The National Carpet
Cleaners Association General Meeting 2013
Stoneman’s Corner
The British Cleaning Council’s Annual
Conference 2013
Water damage restoration
Looking for a new hobby?
NCCA tours of the National Trust Textile
Conservation Studio & Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk
Walking on water
Potions and brews
COSHH Part 2: Protecting yourself and
your customers
10
Work related skin diseases - managing
the risks
Published monthly by:The National Carpet Cleaners Association,62c London Road, Oadby, Leicestershire, LE2 5DH.Tel: 0116 271 9550E-mail: Website:
Nikki Law
Keith Robertson
Nikki Law
Paul Pearce
Keith Robertson
Nigel Lay
Glyn Charnock
Martin Johns
Denise Pitt
Rob Whitbread
Christian Ramsey
Billy Russell
Allan Simmons
www.facebook.com/NCCAFloorCarewww.twitter.com/NCCA_floorcare_
Editor
Editor in Chief
Design Editor
President/Technical Director
Vice President/Marketing Director
Vice President/Events Director
Member Liaison Director
Assistant Membership Director
Franchise Liaison Director
Corporate Liaison Director
Training Director
Co-opted Director
Co-opted Director
newslinkpage 3
he NCCA 2013 General Meeting (GM) will
be held in Leicester on 16th November at T the Leicester Racecourse.
All NCCA members will by now have received an
invitation to attend the General Meeting either by
post, together with a voting slip, or by an email
containing a link to the members’ area of the
NCCA website where votes may be submitted
online at:
(login details will be required).
The online and postal voting is provided for those
who know in advance that they are unable to
attend the GM but would still like to cast their vote
on the election of Directors for 2014. Votes will be
counted by an independent party and therefore
must be received no later than midday on
Wednesday 13th November. Votes received after
this date and time will not be counted.
The GM will begin in the afternoon at 1pm and is
open to NCCA members only. The Board of
Directors highly recommends that members attend
this important meeting to review the
accomplishments and activities of the Association
since the General Meeting last year and to be part
of decisions that will shape the future of the NCCA.
To accompany the GM there will be a marketing
seminar at 10am presented by NCCA Board
members Glyn Charnock and Allan Simmons Jnr.
This will be followed at 11.30am by a pre-meeting
members Q&A session and a buffet lunch at 12pm.
www.ncca.co.uk/members/index.php
The seminar, titled 'Five Easy Real-
World Steps to Make More Profit'
will focus on successful marketing
materials and techniques currently
used by cleaning companies of all
sizes, from owner/operators to
larger businesses with multiple vans.
Glyn and Allan will share with you examples of
reminder letters, emails, key copywriting phrases
and ethical upselling methods amongst others.
More importantly they will also explain WHY the
examples provided work so well.
Attendees will leave the seminar not only
equipped with some excellent ideas on reducing
their marketing spend and increasing their profits,
but also with proven ready-for-use marketing
materials to assist in their business.
So, if you haven't already notified us of your
attendance at the GM, but think you would like to
come along please call us now on 0116 271 9550.
The National Carpet Cleaners AssociationGeneral Meeting 2013
Nicky LawNewslink Editor
PLEASE NOTE: The minutes from last year's
General Meeting, together with the latest
audited Association accounts, can be
found in the members' area of the NCCA
website within the folder titled
'Documents'. Should you require these
documents in hard copy format they can
be obtained from the NCCA office.
newslink page 4
growing number of NCCA
members are now adding
stone and ceramic tile Acleaning and polishing to the list of
services they offer.
If this applies to you, have you
considered the restoration of
painted Georgian or early Victorian
tiles?
Many homeowners are now
showing a desire to uncover the
flagstone floors in their properties
and to remove the paint from the
edges of these stones or from the
sides of their staircases.
There are a number of extreme
removal methods which can cause
serious and unsightly damage to
the surface of the stone but, in the
past, many professionals found that
chemically removing the paint with
paint stripping products containing
dichloromethane was very successful.
These DCM-based paint strippers were
particularly effective at removing the very durable
coatings including leaded paint often found in
Victorian, Georgian, or older buildings, as used
correctly it removed coatings without damaging
the substrate.
However, from the 6th December 2010,
formulators of DCM-based paint strippers have not
been allowed to put their products into the supply
chain for use outside industrial installations.
Retailers were initially allowed to sell existing
stocks to professionals or the public for a further
year, until 6 December 2011.
It was, nonetheless, suggested that paint
removers containing DCM should still be available
for use by 'professionals' who were accredited in
accordance with the provisions of the derogation
(exception) to the EU regulation. It was expected
that the scheme would have been approved no
later than October 2012 and that a format of the
training and details of the derogation would be
finalised by the regulatory authority. However, this
has not happened.
Stripping paint from stone
Keith Robertson
Stoneman’s Corner
newslinkpage 5
Some chemical manufactures state that suitable
alternative paint removers are available for all
coatings that could previously be removed with
dichloromethane-based paint strippers.
Have any of you who are stripping paint from
stone found one yet?
It is understandable
that there were
concerns about the
use of methylene
chloride as, if not
used correctly, it can
be dangerous. A bath
renovating company
found that they were
facing £81,000 fines and costs after
one of their workers died whilst
stripping a bath. The individual, who
was a franchisee, died from inhaling
toxic fumes in the bathroom of a
South West London flat.
When the case was heard at
Southwark Crown Court it was found
that he was using an industrial paint and varnish
remover to strip a resin coating from a bath at a
housing association property.
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) investigated
the death and found there was insufficient natural
ventilation in the bathroom. The stripping agent
contained dichloromethane which is a carcinogenic
toxic chemical. Fumes rapidly built up in the
confined space and he died at the scene as a result
of over exposure. His body was discovered by the
occupant of the flat.
Although the franchisor had provided written
documentation that work of this nature should only
be carried out in well ventilated areas it appears
they didn't provide suitable mechanical ventilation
equipment presuming the franchisee would do so.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Steve Kirton said:
"This is a shocking death resulting from totally
inadequate ventilation in the enclosed
bathroom space in which the individual had
to operate”. He continued, “The risks
associated with stripping agents containing
dichloromethane are well known, yet he
was exposed to lethal
fumes with virtually
no protection.
Mechanical
ventilation equipment
is often a necessity,
but all he had to rely
on was a small open
window, a basic mask
and pot luck”.
The firm was found
guilty of breaching
Section 2(1) of the
Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc
Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every
employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably
practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work
of all his employees".
You may be wondering why I am talking about
this when dichloromethane-based paint strippers
are no longer available. Well, believe it or not,
dichloromethane is still permissible in some other
products such as adhesive removers.
Continued on next page
newslink page 6
So, if you remove adhesives from floors you may
already be using a product containing
dichloromethane (you may also have noticed the
effect that this has on any paint that may be
underneath the adhesive).
If you are still using products containing
dichloromethane, or contemplate doing so, be
aware of the hazards. Breathing in DCM vapour can
produce narcotic effects and although superficially
this might seem entertaining, the outcome may be
considerably less pleasant. It is important to realise
that the initial feelings of drowsiness and giddiness
could progress through to, at the very least, a nasty
headache and that in high concentrations the
inhalation of fumes from dichloromethane could
lead to unconsciousness and ultimately death.
Skin and eye contact should also be avoided since
DCM is a defatting agent and exposure may cause
irritation, or worse.
It is essential to ensure that there is there is
adequate information, instruction and training for
technicians in the use of this and other products
that contain potentially dangerous chemicals and
that, when used, there is effective ventilation. In
case you or your technicians are working where
natural ventilation is limited you should purchase
(and use) a portable fume extractor.
The rule is that if you can't prevent exposure you
need to control it adequately, so in some situations
Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) may be
required. In addition, Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) should also be used in compliance
with Directive 89/686/EEC, in other words
comprising: suitable protective gloves, safety
goggles and protective clothing and appropriate
respiratory protective equipment where
compliance with relevant occupational exposure
limits cannot be otherwise achieved.
Simple dust masks are completely ineffective.
There are various solvent masks, some more easy
to wear than others, and of course there are more
sophisticated systems which include battery
powered air turbo units. Gauntlets can be useful to
protect wrists and lower arms from being burned,
but as they are solvent permeable it is important to
wear suitable gloves underneath. If you are
working in a short sleeved shirt or uniform there
are also Tyvek sleeves that can improve your
protection.
There are many niches where you can enhance
your earnings and the deep stripping of surfaces is
one of these. It is not uncommon for specialist
companies to earn £2500, or more, for stripping a
domestic staircase or £1000 to strip and protect a
hall.
Member referral reportSince publishing a referral statistics report in
last month's Newslink there have been 147
recommendations for full members provided
by the NCCA. This number is made up of 87
referrals from the NCCA office, 58 potential
customers contacting members direct
through the website and 2 referrals to
members without an email address, which
have been tracked by the office.
Continued from previous page
newslink
The British Cleaning Council’s AnnualConference 2013
oin the front runners of the cleaning industry
at The British Cleaning Council's annual J conference at the CBI Conference Centre in
London's Centre Point Tower on Thursday 28th
November 2013 from 9.00am until 3:30pm. The
conference will focus on 'Future Proofing the
Cleaning Industry' and will once again include a
high-profile speaker line up as follows:
Alex Depledge, Co-Founder of Teddle
Pulling the rug out from under us - Start-ups and
new entrants.
Alex will deliver a 'journey so far' seminar
concentrating on technology in the industry and
the need to embrace it moving forward.
Andy Mudd, Principle Consultant, Association for
Public Service Excellence (APSE)
Public Sector - The next commercial competitor?
Andy will deliver a presentation on how to keep
winning contracts despite the rise of the public
sector as the next commercial competitor.
The above will then be followed by breakout
sessions as follows:
Option 1 - Mark Jennings, ActionCoach
Growth Health Check
Mark will present his five ways to business growth
model, which looks at the numbers associated
with businesses leads, conversion rate, average
sale, number of customers and profit margin.
Participants will leave the session with a set of
skills leading to increased
profit.
Option 2 - Priscilla Morris, Loud & Clear Voice
Coaching
Does Your Voice Have Impact?
Priscilla will present a workshop in which
participants learn how their voice impacts on their
professional life. The session will have a
commercial focus and will provide attendees with
skills for business presentations and networking.
Oliver Kamm, Chief Economics Lead Writer and
columnist for The Times, will MC the conference
and will also moderate a final Q&A session of
industry leaders including:
Sarah Bentley, Chief Executive, Asset Skills
Mark Woodhead, Sales Director, Selden Research
Rhys Moore, Director, Living Wage Foundation
Ismena Clout, Chair, BIFM
Early Bird Tickets cost £99.00. Standard tickets
(from the beginning of November), will cost
£149.00. To purchase, simply register online at:
For further information, email
or call: 0203 468 0923.
Limited sponsorship opportunities are available.
For more information, contact Suzanne Howe at
0203 468 0923.
“The BCC annual conference is a must-attend event
for anyone concerned with commercial success in
Ÿ
Ÿ
Ÿ
Ÿ
www.britishcleaningcouncil.org/cleaningconference/
page 8
NCCA COURSES
Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning 22nd -23rd November 201317th - 18th January 201421st - 22nd March 201423rd - 24th May 20144th - 5th July 201419th - 20th September 201421st - 22nd November 2014
Advanced Spot & Stain Removal21st February 201420th June 201410th October 2014
Leather Identification & Cleaning21st November 2013
NCCA courses held at NSPCC Training Centre, Leicester unless otherwise stated. Visit: www.ncca.co.uk for booking forms and further details.
THE BRITISH CLEANING COUNCIL’SANNUAL CONFERENCE 2013
28th November at
IICRC COURSES (HERTFORDSHIRE)
Held at Alltec Network, Royston, Hertfordshire. Tel: 01763 208222
IICRC COURSES (SURREY)
Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning Technicianwith Adam Jankowski6th - 7th November
Held at National Flood School, Surrey. Tel: 01252 821185
Visit: www.iicrc.org for further details on all IICRC Training Courses.
NCCA GENERAL MEETING 2013
16th November at Leicester Racecourse,Leicester
CBI Conference Centre,London
Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning Technician with Paul Pearce12th - 13th November
Applied Structural Drying Technicianwith Adam Jankowski3rd - 5th December
Diary Dates 2013/2014
the UK cleaning industry,” says Doug Cooke, BCC
Chairman, who will be making a presentation at
the conference on the 'Inside the World of the
Secret Boss'. “We anticipate over 150 senior
executives in attendance to discuss, debate and
disseminate the latest economic trends and
managerial thinking within the sector” he added.
NCCA Member Benefits
Adelante Merchant Services: 01628 820500
BeValued - Home Options (specialist claimsmanagement - insurance work): Call ShaunMulvey on 01323 418432
Control Account PLC: 01527 882901
EMJ Management Ltd (workwear clothingand accessories): 02392 434650
Hibu (previously Yell) - ask for CorporateAdvertising Department: 0808 100 7890
HMCA (free legal and counselling helpline): 0117 934 2600
HMCA (medical health cover): 01423 866985
MF Oils (fuel discounts): Call Jake on 01202339197
Payatrader: 01296 660177
SiteWizard (website creation): 08450 608860
Thompson Local - ask forCorporateAdvertsing Department: 01252 390385
TrustMark (Diversity): 0115 9673767
newslink page 10
n our industry it is not
uncommon to be called
into a property to Iclean/restore soft-furnishings
and flooring where a water
damage situation has occurred.
Usually the work will involve
cleaning up after water spillage
from an overflowing sink or
leakage from a faulty washing
machine and the risk to health
is relatively low, but for those
of you directly involved in
flood restoration the risks are
considerably higher.
Water
contamination
in a building is
categorised in
the following
three ways:
Clean water
This would
include an
overflowing
sink, or broken
water pipes. Clean water situations, if not quickly
and properly attended to, can become grey or
black water situations if the water comes into
contact with other contaminates that are harmful
to the human body.
Grey water
This includes washing machine,
dishwasher and broken fish tank
overflows. This is usually contaminated
water, which contains chemical or bio
pollutants. It can cause sickness and
often carries microorganisms as well as
nutrients for microorganisms. These situations if
not dealt with swiftly and effectively can become
black water situations.
Black water
This is usually sewage or flood water and will
Water damage restoration Peter Collins (Honorary Member)
newslinkpage 11
contain pathogenic waste and often a mixture of
toxic chemicals. A black water situation is
unsanitary and a health hazard. Most sewage
contamination situations are usually from
backflows caused by blockages.
Sewage contains urine and faeces and can have a
high percentage of pathogenic fungi, bacteria,
viruses and parasites of the tapeworm variety as
well as pathogenic protozoa. Anyone who comes
into contact with a sewage contamination without
proper protection and precautions is at risk of
becoming ill. Older people, those on medication,
small children, pregnant women and people with
health conditions and poor immune systems are
especially at risk.
Below are some of the basic facts concerning
sewage organisms, health concerns, exposure
routes and secondary problems if sewage is not
dealt with properly.
There are thousands of species of bacterial
organisms found in sewage. The five most
common are: Echerichia Coli, Salmonella, Shigella,
Klebsialla and Enterobacter, causing
gastroenteritis, salmonellosis, shigellosis,
dysentery and typhoid fever.
Also found in sewage are a large number of
viruses causing a variety of illnesses such as
hepatitis, gastroenteritis and respiratory disease,
as well as Protozoa organisms causing amoebic
dysentery and giardiasis.
And, as if that isn't enough, there will also almost
Health and Sewage:
Disease Causing Organisms:
certainly be a significant number of organisms
such as pin worms, hook worms and tape worms
present as well.
Direct skin contact
Poor cleaning and disinfection will leave sewage
contamination on surfaces and objects. This could
cause humans who touch them to catch an
infection directly through sensitive areas of the
body such as hands and feet, or by touching the
eyes and nose with contaminated fingers.
Inhalation
Airborne contamination is a danger, especially if
the surfaces and objects have not been cleaned
and disinfected properly and then drying
equipment is used.
Injection
Surfaces that are contaminated by sewage pose
another problem if a human cuts or punctures
their skin on a surface that was not cleaned or
disinfected properly.
Accidental Ingestion
If surfaces are not cleaned properly after
contamination, there is a risk of ingestion by hand
to mouth contact.
Sewage in the structure of a building could also
cause a secondary level of contamination because
a backflow would have micro-organisms present.
For instance many serious respiratory disorders
and rhinitis-causing allergic and toxic reactions are
Exposure Routes to Humans:
Secondary Contamination and Health Problems:
Continued on next page
newslink page 12
started by organic matter from sewage, which acts
as a nutrient source for other organisms such as
fungi. Structures that are not dried properly allow
mould to multiply causing mycotoxins to develop.
Sewage backflows into buildings are a serious
threat to human health. Sewage waste does
require a high level of restoration methods, much
more so than in a fresh water damage situation. A
technician would be required to wear Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) and undertake extra
training. Extra training for technicians employed in
sewage work would include blood borne
Recommended Procedures and Technician
Training In Sewage Backflows into Buildings:
Continued from previous page
pathogens, waste handling and disposal and
confined space training. A health and safety
programme should be in place for technicians and
they should be vaccinated against hepatitis A and
B, polio and tetanus. They should also be trained
in the safe removal of harmful effluents,
contamination, proper transportation and safe
disposal. The job should be monitored from start
to finish, clearance testing for proper
decontamination of the building after the job is
complete to ensure a healthy and safe
environment for people to re-occupy.
New NCCA Members
Donnington Ltd
London, W14 8BJ
Cleaning Bros. Ltd
Romford, Essex
Tatton Carpet Care
Knutsford, Cheshire
Churchdown Carpet Cleaning
Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Feel Clean
Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Rainbow Services
Northampton, Northamptonshire
range of cleaning chemicals before they ever hit
your customers' homes!
Yet another source of free samples is your local
upholsterers. When they re-cover an item of
furniture they throw away the old coverings and
probably pay to do so. Why not offer to take a few
cushion covers off their hands? It's something else
to try out new cleaning techniques/chemicals on.
Again, these are items that won't matter if they get
damaged, better than damaging your customer's
expensive three piece suite any day.
Looking for a new hobby?
orget all your 'boy's toys', put away all
thoughts of train spotting, stamp F collecting…. do people do such things these
days anyway? I rather doubt it.
I have to admit the train spotting bug passed me
by, thank goodness, although I did have some
indulgences in my misspent youth… until I
discovered girls that is. They, or should I say she,
came into my life in my late teens.
Over the years I have been allowed to indulge in a
few new hobbies which I have somehow managed
to fit in to my business and home/family life. The
trouble is that I am a bit fanatical about things and
my collections (not stamps I hasten to add) did,
and still do, get a little out of hand at times.
One of my hobbies is collecting fabrics. I love
fabrics (it must be my feminine side coming out).
There are so many different styles, weaves and
blends and they can change almost on a monthly
basis, so I am forever adding to my collection.
Why do I do it? Well, sad as it may seem, I love to
play/experiment to see how my samples react to
various cleaning chemicals and techniques (see my
other article called 'Potions and Brews' further on
in this month's Newslink).
Now, here is something that you may already
know, but if you don't then read on…
Were you aware that Marks & Spencer very
kindly produce a range of fabric samples together
with comprehensive informative labels in the
'Home' section of their large retail outlets? It's
almost as though these fabric sample cards were
produced especially for us cleaning technicians. So
you could pop along to your local store and start
your collection now if you wanted to.
What a superb opportunity to see what fabrics
will be coming into the cleaning cycle in a few
months' time. If you collect these fabrics you will
be able to experiment (as I do) with your own
Derek Bolton
acquired friend and member of our sales team…
the upholsterer. When they need to find someone
to clean their customer's upholstery, they will
contact us.
So, picking up a few free samples is yet another
way to expand your knowledge of fabrics, not to
mention helping you to acquire more work.
Hey, if you fancy it, you could even bring a few
samples along to next year's NCCA Carnival so that
we can swap a few items…. you see, it really is just
like stamp collecting!
Whilst you are at it you can build a few useful
relationships with the upholsterers, who will pass
on some of their customers when items of
furniture they have re-covered require cleaning.
Who will the customer usually ask first when their
expensive suite needs cleaning? The upholsterer of
course. And who will the upholsterer recommend?
This is a win-win situation. It's a mutually
beneficial relationship. When we come across
furniture that either requires re-covering or repair,
we can now pass this work on to our newly
Every month you will receive an email notification informing you that Newslink
has been published online. So, if your email address changes at any
point, please email Nicky immediately on: with your up-to-date
details.PLEASE NOTE: IF WE DO NOT HAVE YOUR CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESS YOU WILL NOT
RECEIVE NOTIFICATION EACH MONTH WHEN NEWSLINK HAS BEEN PUBLISHED.
NCCA Newslink online
TrustMark Update
NCCA tours of the National Trust Textile ConservationStudio and Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk
newslink page 16
The final obstacles to having our own category with TrustMark have been resolved.
We are formally submitting an application to become Scheme Operator for our own Carpet
Cleaning category and, all being well, this should be up and running by 1st January.
Following the success of our visit to the National
Trust Conservation Studio in Norfork this year, we
have managed to again secure one of their exclusive
tours for NCCA members.Working to preserve some of the most historic
fabrics in the country, this is a unique opportunity to
see their work and they have kindly agreed to allow
access to their laboratory and wet cleaning area, as
these are of particular interest to our members.The tour is booked to take place on the afternoon
of Friday 9th May next year. It is one hour long and
there will be limited spaces.Because of the tours short timescale we have also
booked a visit to Felbrig Hall (situated nearby) during
the morning. This tour is exclusive to NCCA members
and their friends/family as the Hall is closed to the
general public on this day.For more information about Felbrigg Hall, including
prices, please visit their website:
If you wish to make it a weekend break, Felbrigg is
not far from the lovely market town of Aylsham and
close to the Norfolk coast, with the popular beach
resorts of Cromer and Wells. Or you could even take
a boat trip to see the seals at Blakeney Point.More detailed information will be available soon.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/felbrigg-hall/
newslink page 12
WIN A PLACE ON OURTRAINING COURSE!
Would you like to train as a floor sanding
professional? Well... this is your chance! Simply
identify what you think caused the stain (right) on
an oak kitchen work top and, on a less serious
note, what you think it resembles, AND YOU
COULD WIN A PLACE ON OUR FLOOR SANDING
COURSE - WORTH £395 + VAT! For your chance to
win, email your answers to Terry Guilford at:
COMPETITIONCOMPETITION WIN A PLACE ON OURTRAINING COURSE!
STILL NO WINNER!
HERE’S A CLUE: famine staining
Train as a floorsanding professional
SUCCESSFUL COURSE COMPLETION PROVIDES OPTIONAL MEMBERSHIP TO
THE NATIONAL AFFILIATE NETWORK
WE’RE NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR OUR NEXT
COURSE. LIMITED AVAILABILITY.BOOK NOW!
newslink
Walking on water
illions of people
walk on water
every day… Mwithout even knowing it! Well,
water-based lacquers on wood
flooring anyway.
It all started with the
Californian Air Resources Board
(CARB), who developed
regulations prescribing such
low VOC concentration limits
for products that solvent-based
solutions couldn't compete.
The Europeans followed on
some years later, with
legislation finally starting in
2007 and getting stricter as
time went on (see earlier
article – Newslink August
2013).
Despite the fact that water-based lacquers were
starting to be formulated as early as 1979, the
truth is that without legislation they would
probably never have caught on. They are more
expensive to manufacture and therefore buy,
more difficult to store and require a higher skill
level to apply. The transition from solvent-based
products to water-based was not an easy one.
Bona captured the market early and in fairness to
them, at that time they did do a certain amount of
training. But for most contractors it wasn't until
page 18
Terry Guilford (The Ultimate Floor Sanding Co.)
the legislation finally kicked in that they started to
use water-based products and, at a time when
training programs should really have been offered,
they were conspicuous by their absence.
So what are the main differences between water-
based finishes and solvent-based ones in terms of
application? As stated in the earlier article, firstly
the sanding needs to be of a higher standard;
water causes wood to swell and raise its grain so
finer sanding is required to 'shut down' the grain
and minimise water ingress. Secondly, water does
not have the ability to 'cut' the resin as easily as
solvent, therefore you need to apply more finish to
get the correct amount of polyurethane down and
achieve the same level
of protection for the
wood. In order to do
this you need a
specialist roller frame,
roller sleeve and
application technique.
The frame has no cage,
just a handle
turning 90
degrees. The
roller itself has
sealed, built-in
bearings so that
the lacquer
cannot clog them
up; it is essential
this sleeve spins
VERY freely. The
roller pile is a special material capable of holding a
lot of finish and is always around 10mm deep to
help it do so.
When I first learnt the application technique
necessary for water-based lacquer, I found it totally
counter intuitive having been used to applying
solvent-based finishes. The amount of finish you
put down seems totally wrong, but it is essential to
ensuring the floor has the correct level of
protection (in the event of a claim against a
manufacturer the first thing that is measured is the
depth of finish). In order to get that depth the
roller is dipped completely into a plastic lined
paint scuttle, taken out dripping wet and applied
to approximately one
square metre at a time,
first in one direction
and then ramping off at
90 degrees to ensure
complete and even
coverage. The hand
holding the middle of
the roller pole should
be held lightly BENEATH
the pole so there is no
downward pressure
and the roller should
'glide' across the top of
the floor. There should
be little noise when applying the finish, any
audible evidence that the finish is too thin (which
can only be described as schticking sound… sorry
best I can do) should be listened for and, if heard,
more finish should be applied.
As with all finishes the correct primer should be
used, the correct product for the level of traffic
(cheaper finishes have less polyurethane and
more acrylic) and of course the correct number of
coats need to be applied. An important thing to
remember is that water is merely the carrier for
the polyurethane, if all the guidelines are followed
and the customer is correctly advised as to
maintenance, there is no reason why a water-
based floor finish shouldn't last for many years.
page 19 newslink
have always been a bit of a collector and
NO… before you even think about it, I
don't collect stamps or train numbers, that Iwould be going a little bit too far. I do, however,
like to indulge in a few nice antiques, in a
limited way of course because 'The Governor'
(she who must be obeyed at all times) says
they are just 'dust
harbourers'!
I have also collected
my fair share (and
probably some other
peoples share too) of
cleaning kit over the
years. My mantra being
that “if you haven't got
the right kit, how on
earth can you do the
job?” Hence my mention
in a previous article of
my brush
fetish/collection.
So where am I going with this you may well
ask. Well, over the years I seem to have
acquired a selection, you could say quite a
substantial collection, of cleaning chemicals,
spotters etc. You name 'em and I will probably
have a bottle/tub somewhere in the corner of
my garage… or maybe the shed.
Some I have sought to purchase, as it seemed
a good idea at the time. Some I have been sold
by an enthusiastic salesperson with
Potions and Brewsaccompanying promises that “this product will
deal with a specific stain - like magic”. I reckon
my magic wand could do with a new battery.
Many more have been samples freely and
cheerfully dispensed by our colleagues at NCCA
seminars and conferences over the years.
I even diversified into Fire and Flood work
some twenty years ago and in doing so invested
in yet more brews and potions, many still
lurking in a dark corner of my workshop/garage
merrily effervescing and
bubbling away looking
more decidedly evil every
time I come across them.
Now, there's nothing more
enjoyable that dabbling in
a bit of alchemy when the
Governor has taken the day
off to indulge in a little
retail therapy. Surrounded
by bits of fabric and carpet,
not to mention oodles of
stains that the items have
been subjected to over the
previous few weeks (in
anticipation of this day) I am in my element.
With safety goggles in place, of course, and
wearing my lovely green (they match my eyes)
chemical resistant gloves and laboratory coat, I
like to play, er… I mean… experiment. In this
gloriously hot, smelly environment one can
practice techniques to ones hearts content
knowing full well that if any damage occurs (and
it often does) it's not a customer's upholstery or
carpet that is being destroyed. OK, I know I
shouldn't have but, in the seclusion of my 'den',
I have mixed the odd chemical or three. I have
had some bizarre reactions, including fireballs at
one point (Harry Potter eat your heart out). A
not so gentle reminder to NOT experiment in a
customer's home!
It's a good idea, when experimenting, to keep
beside you a magic spell book. When you've
created a potion that works on a particular stain
(without melting the fabric/fibres or setting
your garage on fire) make sure that you write it
down. Having, some years ago, devised a
procedure for successfully removing an evil mix
of summer fruits from a carpet, I then promptly
omitted to write it down in my book of 'spells',
leading to my utterance of that unforgivable
expletive… TREACLE!
I digress, the main reason for writing this is
because now that I am, technically, retired I
have seriously got to think about the disposal of
some of my extensive collection of potions and,
like many of you I presume, I am not sure of the
best way to do this. I can't just tip them away
down the drain, whatever might it do to any
creatures lurking in the sewers? After all we
don't want any mutant rats, mice or
even turtles emerging to terrorise
society do we?
Having checked up on waste
disposal procedures there seems to
be conflicting information out there.
It would appear that putting
chemicals down a toilet with copious
amounts of water is OK in some
areas. Certainly we have been
informed that waste water from cleaning
machines may be dealt with in this way, but
what about chemicals in concentrated form?
Maybe a call to our local water authority or
even the Health & Safety Executive to get their
views on disposal might be a good idea.
However, my own experiences with these sort
of bodies over the years has been pretty dire,
their staff must all have a diploma in evasive
answering techniques.
Of course we could always turn our redundant
chemical mixes into wine. Now there's a
thought… hang on a minute, I don't drink wine!
Seriously though, it would be interesting to
hear how other cleaners dispose of their
chemical waste. So, why not write in to our
editor, Nicky, at: [email protected] and she'll
print your various disposal solutions in
Newslink.
(“Mixing up chemicals
and creating fireballs…
hmm, probably better
to take up the stamp
collecting” - The
Editor).
Derek Bolton (Honorary Member)
newslink page 22
COSHH Part 2: Protecting yourself andyour customers
ast month we
covered COSHH
regulations in Lrelation to the safe use of
chemicals, which is
ordinarily one of the
biggest concerns for
carpet cleaners in terms
of work safety.
However, some carpet
cleaners also undertake
work in flood or fire
damaged buildings or
even properties which
are the location of a
trauma or crime scene
and, if this applies to you,
it is likely that you will
come into contact with
additional potentially
hazardous substances
(other than chemicals) during the course of your
work; for example sewage contamination in the
case of a flood.
In a fire/flood or trauma/crime scene situation, it
is possible that the homeowners may still be living
in their property when you are called in to do the
work and, if this is the case, you will need to carry
out a risk assessment on their behalf. You may need
to contain damaged areas of the building with
plastic sheeting and extraction fans to create
negative air pressure etc. If homeowners are at risk
you need to inform them and the Loss Adjusters or
insurance company immediately. Please bear in
mind that homeowners in the property that you are
working in are not responsible for your health and
safety, but you are responsible for theirs.
On arrival at any property where an abnormal
event has occurred, whether currently inhabited or
not, the first thing you must do is carry out a
general risk assessment to ensure a safe
environment for all possible building occupants
while work is taking place. You will then need to
Steve Scotter
newslinkpage 23
undertake a Control of Substances Harmful to
Health (COSHH) risk assessment, to decide what
harmful substances may be present and what
control measures are required to make the
workplace and work task low risk.
It is absolutely imperative that a COSHH risk
assessment is carried out before work commences.
This is stated in Health and Safety regulations; it is a
statutory requirement and non-compliance is easily
prosecutable. Remember, if anyone is harmed by
your omission you could be liable.
Steve Scotter was a carpet cleaner and a
member of the National Carpet Cleaners
Association for many years. He now works for
NCCA Corporate Member, Hydro-Dynamix Ltd,
as a NEBOSH qualified Health and Safety
Manager.
Compliance with Health and Safety may seem like a
complicated affair, but bear in mind that it is in your
own interests to comply with the regulations set.
However, if you feel that you are struggling to
understand current regulations, or to integrate them
into your working procedures, it may be worth
engaging in some Health and Safety training.
Note: The NCCA run an excellent Health and Safety
course specifically for the carpet and upholstery
cleaner. 2014 Health and Safety course dates are to
be announced soon. Please see Diary Dates within
Newslink or visit:
for all current NCCA course dates.
www.ncca.co.uk/training.php
newslink page 24
Sophie Tompkins (Eversheds LLP)
Work related skin diseases - managingthe risks
hilst at work, the
welfare and health
and safety of Wemployees is protected by law.
The implications of this are far
reaching, and there are
numerous rules and regulations
imposed on both employers and
employees to ensure a safe
working environment. Proper
assessment and management of
risk is crucial for both the
welfare of your employees and
for the successful running of your business.
This article considers the procedures necessary
to protect employees from work-related skin
diseases that are caused by exposure to harmful
substances. These conditions are not only painful
for the employee but they are burdensome for the
employer, having to manage employee absence
and, in some cases, compensation claims.
Work related skin diseases are caused or
exacerbated by contact with, or exposure to,
hazardous substances. Exposure to chemicals can
lead to burns, irritant contact dermatitis, allergic
contact dermatitis and other skin diseases. Most
hazardous substances are identified by hazard
warnings and risk and safety phrases on product
labels, however there are often less obvious
The risks
hazards which may be generated from general
work activities; for example, wood dust from
sanding or prolonged or frequent skin contact with
water, especially when used along with soaps and
detergents (work of this nature is known as 'wet
work' and can lead to dermatitis).
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
Regulations 2002 (COSHH) govern the use of
hazardous substances at work, and apply to
employers, employees and to the self-employed.
An employer must not carry out any work which
can expose employees to substances hazardous to
health, unless a suitable and sufficient risk
assessment has been carried out. Where it is not
possible to prevent exposure to hazardous
substances there must be adequate control of
The regulations
newslinkpage 25
exposure, which is considered further below.
Hazardous substances
The term 'hazardous substance' is defined in
COSHH, and covers, amongst others, substances
carrying the very toxic, toxic, harmful, corrosive or
irritant symbol and substances whose chemical or
toxic properties, and their use, create a risk to
health (this includes wet work).
Assessing the risk
The risk assessment undertaken must be 'suitable
and sufficient'. It must therefore be thorough, and
include consideration of the substance itself and
any information available of the health effects
associated with its use. Exposure to the substance
must be considered, taking into account factors
such as the duration of the exposure and the
circumstances of the work. It is not sufficient to
undertake a single risk assessment; it must be
reviewed regularly and changes introduced as
necessary if the risk has increased.
Controlling exposure
When minimising the risk, you should always keep
in mind the principles of good practice. Control is
adequate when the risk of harm is as 'low as
reasonably practical'.
The first thing to consider is whether or not it will
be possible to remove the risk entirely. Often this
will be highly impractical, especially where the
harmful substance in question is water.
If the risk cannot be removed, it must be
controlled. There are a number of different ways
of achieving adequate control, and each will vary
according to your own specific type of work.
Measures taken must include (in order of priority):
the use of appropriate processes, systems and
controls; the control of exposure at source; and
finally the provision of suitable Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE).
Practical methods of achieving this may include
the substitution of the harmful substance for
something safer, the use of gloves (being one of
the most common examples of PPE) or using tools
rather than completing the job by hand. When
using tools also consider increasing the 'safe
working distance' between the substance and the
skin by working with long-handled tools instead of
short-handled ones wherever possible.
In an industry which deals frequently with water,
chemicals and other potentially harmful
substances the risks associated with work related
skin diseases are present on a daily basis. However,
there are straightforward ways of managing and
controlling the risks and ensuring that the pain and
problems caused by work related skin disease are
something that you never have to deal with.
Conclusion
Items for sale
newslink page 26
BUSINESS FOR SALE
BUSINESS FOR SALE
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE - £2950
VACANCY & BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Small, long-established, reputable NCCA Registered, working carpet, upholstery and soft furnishings
cleaning company. Essex based. Owner Operator retiring. To be sold as a complete package only.
Mobile HWE and dry cleaning system. Domestic and commercial clients. Genuine interested parties only
please to call 07903 497298 and leave details.
Small, well established carpet, hard floor and upholstery cleaning business (London and Kent
borders). Package includes: 57 plate Vauxhall Vivaro LWB Van with 53k miles on the clock, Prochem Blazer
GT Truck Mount machine with only 270hrs on the clock, established interactive website (which had SEO
programme last year), chemicals, turbo drier, 250 feet of solution and suction hose and van mounted hose reels, together with a property maintenance
company name, website and promotional materials. Contact telephone number 020 8309 6517. Sale
price: £18,000 O.N.O.
Top of the range Ashbys Ninja adjustable up to 400psi with inbuilt heater and Hot Solvent
Functionality. 2 x25m vacuum hoses, 1 x silencer hose, 1 x wand, 1 x upholstery tool, 1 x dry cleaning solvent tool. Sebo Duo agitator, Sebo Vacuum BS36,
1.5hp blower dryer, Truvox high speed buffer, Prochem Stain Removal kit, 2 x 6 litres pressure
sprayers, 1 x 1 litre upholstery / spot sprayer, vinyl mat for Ninja, and 1 terrapaulin sheet, Huge array of
chemicals including: Prochem Power Burst, Defoamer, Prochem Pre Spray Gold, Prochem Natural
Carpet Cleaner, Ashby's supreme Anti Grease, Prochem Browning prescription, Prochem Fabric and
Fibre Rinse, Ashby's Extra Fresh, Prochem Odour Fresh. Box of other bits including shoe covers; brushes, polystyrene pads, measuring jugs, dry
compound.All in excellent condition. Selling as my second
business is consuming all of my time. Contact Richard 07903 841534.
Experienced full time Carpet and Floor Care Technician required. Own van and equipment an
advantage but not essential. Good business incentive package (profit share or buy in). Area coverage M4 corridor from Bristol to London. Apply by email to
[email protected] with full CV, etc.) or telephone: 01672 871882 or mobile: 07831
172743.
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
TRUCKMOUNT
CLEANING AND RESTORATION MACHINERY - EQUIPMENT - ACCESSORIES
MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT
BUSINESS FOR SALE
Mobile container/bin (red) - comes with lid. Heavy duty container on wheels. L55” x W32” x H31”, ideal hose and other carpet clng equipment storage. List price: £199 - selling for £75. Whole room drier/air mover. List price: £534 - selling for £175 (no VAT).
Contact: Chis on: 02380 898 212 or email:[email protected]
or phone Chris on: 07970 040729.
Banclene truck mount complete with base unit, stainless steel 80 gallon recovery tank, 100 gallon
solution tank, 150 feet of Vaccuum/solution hoses, floor, stair and various upholstery hand tools, inline
heater and misc parts etc..The van has been sold seperately. Selling due to retirement and will
consider the highest offer. Call Derek at Aquamaster on 01845 537640 - mobile 07976 218304 or email
derek @aquamaster-yorkshire.co.uk
Dri-Eaz Dehumidifier 1200 as New Boxed £450.00. Dri-Eaz Sahara Pro TurboDryer - New Boxed
£150.00. Dri-Eaz Dri X Airchanger Dehumidifier New Boxed. Normal Price £1900.00. Our Price £500.00.
Plus much more. For a complete list please telephone: 07580 182 325 or E-mail:
3 Ozone plates 4'' x 6'' to fit Jetazone 600 ozone generator - £15.00 for the 3, plus £5.00 p & p.
Chemspec stainless steel 4 jet floor wand in good condition - £100.00 plus delivery charge if
applicable. Please phone Pete Collins on 07885 804560.
Well established (November 2000) Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning business. Selling due to
retirement. Centrally located covering Nottingham, Derby and Leicester (all within 20 miles). The
business includes 04 reg'd Transit Van, taxed Feb 2014, MOT Aug 2014, Triple Vacuum Alltec Advance
0-600psi machine capable also of Tile and Grout cleaning, spare machine - Alltec Pro Plus, Rotovac,
wand, carpet and upholstery hand tools, chemicals, hoses, air mover, plus numerous marketing
materials, (Joe Polish, Pirahna Marketing) existing website and large customer database. If interested please contact Colin Wakefield at Breedon Carpet
Care on 01332 865565 or 07811 963317.
NCCA Corporate Members
+ Allied Insurance Services Ltd:
+ Alltec Network:
+ Amtech UK:
+ Ashby's Cleaning Equipment:
+ Asset Finance Solutions UK Ltd:
+ Bio Productions Ltd (inc. Stapro):
+ Camberford Law (insurance brokers):
+ Chemdry Franchising Ltd:
+ Chemspec Europe Ltd:
+ Cleanerswarehouse Ltd:
+ Cleaning Systems UK:
+ Cleanpro Software Solutions Ltd:
+ Cleansmart Ltd:
+ Cleantec Innovation Ltd:
+ Columbus Cleaning Machines Ltd:
+ Dri-Eaz Products Ltd:
+ Dry Fusion UK Ltd:
+ Forum of Private Business:
+ Get Booked Up Software:
+ Gleaming Insurance (insurance brokers):
+ Hi-Tec Cleaning Group:
+ Host Von Schrader Ltd:
+ Hydro Dynamix:
+ Mailboxes Etc:
+ McGregor Lloyd (insurance brokers):
+ NSL Restormate: 01670 590099:
+ Nu Life Stone Care Ltd:
+ Oates Laboratories (Europe):
+ Prochem Europe Ltd:
+ Rainbow International:
+ Restoration Express:
+ Robert Saunders Marketing Mentor:
+ Sebo UK Ltd:
+ ServiceMaster Ltd:
+ Stainshield Ltd:
+ Textile Cleaning Solutions:
+ The Big Clean:
+ The Ultimate Floor Sanding Co.:
+ The WoolSafe Organisation:
+ Truvox International Ltd:
+ Worldwide Cleaning Support:
0844 8156211 (I)
01763 208222 (C/M/F/T)
01444 232211 (C/M)
01322 227806 (C/M/E)
01254 584404 (FI)
01444 244000 (C)
0208 315 5000 (I)
01482 872770 (C/M/Fr)
01274 597333 (C/M/T/D/F)
01772 434333 (T/C/R/M)
01334 656787 (C/M/T/F)
01582 518467
0115 8240034 (T/C/R/M/K)
0870 733 7733 (T/C/W/M)
01772 426527 (M)
01908 611211 (C/M/T)
01772 433711 (C/M/T/W/Fr)
01565 634467
01405 813665
0845 4740068 (I)
02866 341416 (C/E/F/M/T)
0151 347 1900 (M/C)
01622 664993 (Fr)T)
01628 633336
0121 706 0616 (I)
(M/C/Tr)
0161 480 7284 (M/C)
01772 433711 (C)
0208 974 1515 (C/F/M/T)
01623 422488 (M/C/Fr)
01252 726106 (M/C/T/A)
08450 537129 (K)
01494 465533 (M)
0116 275 9000 (M/C/Fr)
01372 841467 (C)
01934 521155 (M/C)
0208 3934778 (M,C,W,K)
00353 91846488 (M/C/Fr)
01943 850817
02380 702200 (M)
01279 422220 (C/M)
C - Chemicals / M - Machinery / W - Wholesalers / Fr - Franchises / I - Insurance / K - Marketing / T - Technical Services / F - Fire Retardents / A - Auxiliary Services (Restoration Cleaners) / E - Supply/Repair of Curtains and Blinds / Fi - Finance / Tr - Training.newslink page 27
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
OFFICE PRINTER/COPIER
WHOLE ROOM DRYER
BUSINESS FOR SALE
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
Prochem 250 ft vacuum hoses for truck mount - £150.00. Chemspec hose reel for truck mount
plastic - £200. Prochem sadle tank for truckmount 227 litre/60 gallons - £250.00.
Contact [email protected] for further information or contact Andy on: 07970 544806.
Duplo DP-2211 Single colour A3 or A4 duplicator. Full working order, any fair trial. Ideal for low cost
Flyers. Some consumables. PC Interface, prints direct from P.C. or printed copy - £250.00 o.n.o.
For further Information Contact [email protected] or call 0116
2672720. Based in Leicester
360 degrees air mover, ex company stock used for 18 months only (Truvox) - Cost new: £500. Selling
cost: £150. Contact: 02380 898212.
Small long-established reputable NCCA registered working business, specialising carpet, upholstery and hard floor cleaning. Northumberland based
owner/operator retiring. To be sold as a complete package only. Sign written 55 plate Iveco Daily van
with fitted Prochem Blazer Truck Mount High pressure and extraction hose reels complete with hoses, including wands, hard floor surface spinner
3 turbo dryers fans, 4 dehumidifiers, MMs Plus, Sebo vac and duo, Rotary scrubber, plus lots of
other equipment and chemicals. Plus a fully SEO website. Genuine interested parties only please.
Call 01670 787185.
Whole room downdraft dryer from Power Flite. Versatile air mover - multiple positions. Hardly
used. Was: £325. Accept: £150. Victor Sprite 12" Rotory Machine. Used once. Was £855 - Accept £450. Collect from Coventry. Tel 02476 620444.
The Association advises that all goods are checked to be in a satisfactory condition, and
comply to electrical and health and safety standards, etc. It is recommended that
equipment serial numbers should be checked to ensure the seller is the legitimate owner. The
Association accepts no responsibility or liability arising from any transaction or dispute between
the buyer and seller.
Order Chemtreat PLUS Insecticide* before the end of December to get
10 free promotional leaflets and use of the T.I.P. logo.
*You must quote your T.I.P. licence number. If you
haven't got one you can qualify by e-mail for just
£25.00 plus vat.
Chemspec Europe, Tong Park, Otley Road, Baildon, West Yorkshire, BD17 7QD. Tel: 01274 597333 Fax: 01274 597444 E-mail: Website:[email protected] www.chemspec-europe.com
Chemtreat PLUS - Order yours now!
Look out next month for the editorial all about the Textile Insect Pest industry and the massive potential to increase your profits within the textile cleaning industry.