Managing hygiene and infection control during load shedding

The national energy crisis and load shedding phenomenon continues to disrupt service delivery and cause massive losses in productivity. The resultant interruption in water supply affects hygiene and sanitation in homes and business and is a major concern for the hospitality, healthcare and manufacturing sectors.

Contract cleaning services face a number of challenges in delivering uninterrupted services to clients with increased and unpredictable load shedding schedules. The industry has had to navigate drastic reductions in the workforce due to loss of contracts and production delays. Their agility and flexibility have been put to the test to support clients during the prolonged energy crisis.

Red Alert Service Solutions CEO, Peter Harvey, says “We have taken action to curtail the negative impact of load shedding and scare water supply on operations, both internally and at the client interface. Our investment in renewable energy solutions across our national footprint serves a dual purpose – it eradicates business interruption, an imperative in the service sector and it helps to manage the projected accelerated cost increases associated with these services. In addition to that, we have invested in the best quality equipment available to facilitate consistent and uninterrupted productivity on the cold front, where it matters most.”

Contract Cleaning, although heavily reliant on labour, is increasingly turning to innovative equipment to deliver better results over shorter periods, improving on quality and efficiency for clients. According to Andre Coetzee, National Cleaning and Hygiene Manager at Red Alert, “We hire good people, train them well and provide them with the best tools to get the job done properly. We’ve moved to greener technology that is powered by lithium ion for instance to ensure that the job goes on even when the lights go out.” He goes on to say that they do daily quality inspections on site so that staff are encouraged to utilise “downtime” well. It is this personalised and hands-on approach to business that Coetzee believes is the differentiator which has played a part in the Cleaning Division’s robust performance and growth despite all the challenges facing the industry at large.

Red Alert maintained their staff quotient during lockdown and have increased their workforce in the Cleaning and Hygiene Division by 10% since 2020. They have an impressive record of staff retention that speaks to their company ethos and values. Their list of blue-chip clients is testament to the quality of work that they produce but according to Mr. Harvey, “we’re most proud of the fact that our clients and our staff stay with us. We believe that’s because we care – about people and about quality.”