Media release
19 May 2020
Image caption: A SafeGroup operative carries out electrostatic disinfectant spraying to protect surfaces for up to 30 days against the Covid-19 virus.
Emergency soft FM specialist launches Back to Business Covid-19 disinfection and testing service
SafeGroup, the UK's leading independent emergency soft FM service provider, has launched a comprehensive and highly-innovative Covid-19 disinfection and testing service to support businesses as they seek to return to work safely and smoothly.
The three-step process involves a premises deep clean and a revolutionary Covid-19 (Coronavirus) treat and protect service. It also includes, for the first time, Covid-19 testing of treated surfaces to help to allay the predicted fears of staff and customers as they return to business premises.
SafeGroup Chief Executive Office Steve Broughton said: "Our Covid-19 Back to Business Clean and Safe service is a comprehensive cleaning and disinfection response to the major challenges facing businesses as they leave lockdown and reopen their premises.
"They recognise they have a duty of care to ensure their workplaces are safe and clean. They are having to address the very real wellbeing and mental health concerns of their employees and customers.
"They also want their workplace to have long-term protection against Covid-19 so staff and customers have peace of mind over the weeks to come. Our Back to Business Clean and Safe service delivers all three.
"Businesses and FM providers alike know they don't have the in-house expertise, technical capability or capacity to carry out disinfection to the standard customers, staff and regulators expect, which is why interest in our new service has been intense."
During the pandemic, SafeGroup has provided Covid-19 decontamination services for a wide range of businesses, including facilities management providers, hospitals, care homes, schools and manufacturers.
One of them is London Stansted Airport. Nick Henderson, the airport's Business Continuity and Resilience Manager, said: "We needed to respond quickly to reassure passengers and staff that decisive action was being taken on their behalf. SafeGroup's decontamination service has been an important component of our strategy."
Amy Harris, Group Health and Safety and Training Manager for Michelmersh Bricks, said: "We engaged SafeGroup in advance of reopening our multi-site operation. The main drivers have been to ensure a safe environment for our staff and customers while providing peace of mind that the working environment was being regularly disinfected and protected."
The new Back to Business Safe and Clean service is tailored to deliver a complete package of technically advanced cleaning and disinfection services to support businesses as the government seeks to phases out the Covid-19 lockdown.
Step 1 - Deep Clean: a full and thorough mechanical clean of premises using professional techniques and chemical products to create a clean and fresh workspace. Staff and employer organisations, including the CIPD, have emphasised the need to carry out deep cleans as part of a Covid-19 return to workplace strategy.
Step 2 - Treat and Protect: SafeGroup is treating premises with a revolutionary broad spectrum anti-microbial chemical treatment proven to be greater than 99.99% effective against Covid-19 and which provides surface protection against the virus for up to 30 days. It is delivered as an microfine electrostatic spray, maximising coverage.
Step 3 - Testing: SafeGroup will collect multiple test samples and arrange to have them analysed for Covid-19 at a scientific laboratory, with results returned within 72 hours. The testing process is the same as the one used by Public Health England.
All three elements will be carried out to an exemplar standard, including the use of full microbiological PPE where necessary.
SafeGroup has designed its service around feedback from customers as they develop plans to leave lockdown and strategies to operate in a post-Covid-19 business environment where expectations about workplace hygiene standards are likely to be greatly raised.
SafeGroup Sales Director Chris Macdonald said: "Covid-19 has reframed the response to workplace cleanliness. Our discussions with businesses tell us that they see making sure employees having confidence in workplace hygiene standards as being a critical priority as the Covid-19 lockdown is phased out.
"This is a key reason why we're offering the Covid-19 testing service and why it has been enthusiastically welcomed by customers. It gives businesses scientific evidence that workplaces are Covid-19-free. Combined with the long-lasting effectiveness of our disinfection treatment, staff can be confident everything is being done to keep them safe."
SafeGroup expects its Back to Business Clean and Safe service to be particularly attractive to business services providers, like banks and insurance companies, operating large office spaces, as well as government agencies and retailers.
The service is also ideal for service organisations that have been working hard to protect against Covid-19 throughout the pandemic, including hospitals, care homes emergency services and transport providers.
Ends
For more information about this release, contact Andy Comber: 07889 630440 |ac@matm.co.uk.
About SafeGroup Ltd
SafeGroup is the UK's leading independent emergency soft FM specialist. Its services cover reactive and planned specialist cleaning, hazardous waste removal, pest control and water compliance.
SafeGroup works with a wide range of companies in sectors that include food retail, hospitality, business services, education, transport, construction, housing and property management - as well as FM service providers.