< Previous INSIGHT 30 May 2020www.fm-middleeast.com Gavin McQuillan, commercial director – environmental solutions at Dulsco, talks about the fi rm’s response and strategies towards COVID-19 T here were several challenges facing the waste management sector; however, with the current COVID-19 outbreak, they are several more obstacles to overcome. Gavin McQuillan, commercial director – environmental solutions at Dulsco, says that prior to the current pandemic, the main challenge in the waste management sector was to promote recycling and get the public to segregate their waste in the best way TACKLING WASTE IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS possible to help achieve maximum diversion from landfill and align with the government vision of diverting more than 75% of the waste from landfill by 2021. McQuillan adds: “The current pandemic of COVID-19 imposes new challenges on the waste management sector including health and safety measures for operational staff, especially when it comes to clients mixing potentially contaminated waste with general waste and recyclables. “Having the recyclables that we collect and segregate, mixed with potential biohazardous material can expose our operatives to potential infection, so an in- depth analysis was carried out to ensure our operatives where supplied with the most appropriate PPE and best practices were adhered to.” As a trusted partner of Dubai Municipality for over eight years, Dulsco deployed its assets and expertise in the INSIGHT May 2020 31www.fm-middleeast.com support of the government’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. McQuillan elaborates: “We have enhanced the health and safety measures equipped and trained our teams to handle COVID-19 suspected biohazardous waste in order to serve potentially infected communities including hotels, accommodations and clinics. We have also optimised our existing resources to support Dubai Municipality and the UAE government in the mass disinfection efforts for public places including bins sanitisation after every collection.” In response to the nationwide demand for large-scale sanitisation, Dulsco has developed a Mass Sprayer System to prevent and arrest the progress of the novel coronavirus, using internationally approved virucides. The company resourcefully repurposed its mobile tankers and equipped them with mist generators dispersing disinfectants over large areas safely and efficiently. McQuillan says: “Manned by our trained crew, the Mass Sprayer System has been designed for maximum impact across residential communities, commercial properties, quarantine zones and public spaces. “Meanwhile, we have used our Portable Pumper System highly effective for closed areas and objects such as the decontamination of waste collection bins, vehicles and equipment.” Dulsco has also introduced a sanitising tunnel built by its engineering team to allow commercial and publicly accessible buildings such as office buildings, medical facilities, quarantine zones, malls and markets to have a safe point of entry. Personnel and residents entering the premises pass through a non-toxic sanitising spray providing an added defence against the virus being transported into the site. “Following our experience in the medical waste handling and transportation, we have utilised our Dubai Municipality-authorised hazardous waste transport vehicles and our highly trained hazardous waste crews to start collecting and handling potentially contaminated waste from hotels, hospitals and any other quarantine facilities before they are delivered for incineration or other advised locations by the municipality,” McQuillan says. However, McQuillan adds that Dulsco’s commitment to its clients and communities couldn’t have been fulfilled without the strategic efforts of its business leaders putting together a business continuity plan which has been in place for a period of over four weeks and has initiated a series measures to ensure the firm maintains uninterrupted service to its clients and stakeholders. The measures include: • A high level action group (CAG) has been formed to deal with potential emergencies to allow the business continue to perform its operations and to communicate effectively and timely with employees, customers and the authorities. CAG is also responsible to resume the business to normal after the effects of Covid-19 are neutralised. • Special isolation facilities established as backup and to enable quarantine arrangements within our accommodations. • Regular monitoring including temperature checking and overall body disinfecting are in place for all employees in the accommodation. • Body temperature is being checked for all employees before boarding busses and entering premises. • HSE-trained team commissioned to conduct safety awareness sessions and apply sanitisation to accommodations, offices and workshops in addition to regular disinfection of transport vehicles following every shift. • Specific “Tool Box Talk” has been communicated to all supervisors and line managers to spread further awareness among workers allocated at different client sites. • Standard DHA guidelines/protocols developed and implemented at Dulsco Clinic to deal with suspected cases. • All employees handling waste are equipped with PPE and safety glasses. TECHNOLOGY Technology has played a major part in Dulsco’s success. McQuillan says: “Dulsco realises the significance of technology in the waste management sector, especially after being named the official waste management partner of Expo 2020, where we committed to an 85% diversion from landfill that can only be achieved by implementing technological advancements to our waste management process.” Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak Dulsco was in the process of commissioning a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) the first of its kind in the country that would segregate up to 240 tonnes of mixed recyclables per day. This will now be delayed due to the current travel restrictions, he says. In addition to the above, McQuillan says that Dulsco has numerous recycling facilities, from slop and sludge recycling, to paper pulp and glass upcycling. McQuillan concludes by saying that even in the current COVID-19 scenario, “technology was an enabler for Dulsco to customise and operate the newly launched sanitisation solutions, which reflected especially in its mass spray systems, and sanitisation tunnels”. Gavin McQuillan, commercial director – environmental solutions at Dulsco. CLEANING AND DISINFECTION 32 May 2020www.fm-middleeast.com Jamal Abdulla Lootah, group CEO, Imdaad, explains how the fi rm has taken huge strides in facing the current COVID-19 scenario Imdaad has taken several decisive measures to rise to the challenges presented by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Jamal Abdulla Lootah, group CEO, Imdaad, gives an example: “Our subsidiary, Vision Safety, recently launched a new disinfection tunnel called ViroSheild by Vision Safety, which is a disinfection solution designed to help communities, government entities, and companies across the UAE to tackle this unprecedented threat. The fully automatic tunnel is equipped with motion sensors and sprays users with a fine mist that disinfects their clothes as they walk through it.” Lootah adds that all disinfectants and equipment used are fully compliant with Dubai Municipality’s guidelines for cleaning and disinfection, as well as being 100% safe and environmentally friendly. “We’ve developed two versions of high-pressure and low-pressure tunnels to meet the requirements of a wide range of customers including malls, ADAPTING TO THE ‘NEW NORMAL’ hospitals, construction sites, labour accommodations and residential areas. Our engineers are also working on models for trucks and cars, as well as a variant that can be installed inside airplanes in line with the needs of civil aviation authorities and operators,” Lootah elaborates. In addition, Imdaad’s cleaning division Isnaad launched a new disinfection and cleaning service in March in support of the government’s disinfection drive. He says: “Our team is equipped with ultra- low volume cold fogging equipment with a range of 5 to 8 meters, which is capable of dispensing between 80 and 150ml of disinfectant per minute. This allows us to cover large public spaces effectively and efficiently. Recently, we conducted a major disinfection program at Jebel Ali Free Zone, which encompassed disinfecting and sanitising the streets, gate pass offices, business premises, bus stations, car parking and outdoor areas in accommodations.” Imdaad’s Environmental Solutions division has also stepped up its infrastructure cleaning and pest management endeavours to address the needs of the current climate. More than 150 of its highly trained operators are working to eradicate pests and viruses from high-contact surfaces in residential, commercial and healthcare facilities across the country. The firm’s teams are fully equipped with the resources and expertise to achieve the highest standards of sanitisation, disinfection and fumigation and create a safer environment for all. In addition, the division also collects around 5,000 kilograms of medical waste daily from various medical institutions. Lootah says: “We have three teams dedicated to this task; one utilises a heavy truck for the collection, while two others use specialised light medical vans with cooling systems to transport medical waste to the treatment facility. Our medical waste management process is Imdaad carrying out disinfection.CLEANING AND DISINFECTION May 2020 33www.fm-middleeast.com fully aligned with Dubai Health Authority and Dubai Municipality guidelines and instructions, and all team members wear the appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) including special masks and gloves that are disposed of after every collection. Our vehicles are also thoroughly disinfected after every transport.” Adaptation The FM industry’s role in containing the spread of COVID-19 in the region is becoming increasingly important as this unprecedented situation continues to evolve, Lootah observes. Faced with growing demand for the disinfection or sanitisation of public places and facilities, the sector faces a number of challenges. He says: “As with other frontline workers such as medical staff, cleaning professionals are dealing with a higher risk of infection due to the nature of their work and require both the appropriate PPE and specialised training. “We have empowered our staff with the knowledge and equipment. They need to deliver fast, safe and effective disinfection solutions at all types of facilities across the UAE. As a result, our cleaning professionals are capable of disinfecting a two-bedroom apartment within around 30 minutes. We also have teams that handle specific types of venues that require more specialised approaches. All of the biocides and disinfectants we use are approved by Dubai Municipality and eradicate 99.999% of germs, bacteria, viruses and fungi. Our odourless chemicals are both child and pet-friendly, and break down into simple salt, meaning no rinse or wash is required afterwards. “As always, safety is paramount and we are taking every step necessary to ensure the wellbeing of our team members and the communities they serve. Our disinfection teams are provided with disposable PPE, including full body coveralls that are discarded at the end of every disinfection process. All cleaning equipment used is also thoroughly disinfected before it is allowed to be deployed on any other project.” In line with the guidelines and directives issued by local authorities, Imdaad has increased the cleaning and disinfection frequency of all high-touch surfaces. These include entrance door handles, chairs and tables in public areas, reception desks, elevator buttons, escalator handrails, training and meeting rooms, restrooms, garbage rooms, and telephones. Regular disinfection of public areas has emerged as a critical step in eliminating the spread of the virus. Assessing any risk factors and taking proper protective measures before beginning the work is also now a high priority. Imdaad has adopted best practices in training to ensure its teams understand not only the cleaning and disinfection protocols, but also the health and safety precautions that must be followed, Lootah claims. He says: “Our Environment, Health, Safety and Quality (EHSQ) department has been conducting additional training sessions to complement the range of 50 modules available at our Imtiaz Academy, which offers both academic learning sessions and hands-on practical training delivered by British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) certified assessors. “In the long-term, we believe our industry will be expected to deliver higher standards overall as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which can only be a good thing for everyone. At Imdaad, we are very well prepared for this new reality as our commitment to world-class training and innovation ensures our customers are already accustomed to services of the highest quality. “The current scenario shows that Imdaad was ready to face this challenge, proving that through the right preventive measures in HSE and flexibility in providing its services, the company was able to mobilise a cleaning task force and support with disinfection services on the frontline. We are confident that Imdaad is prepared to take on any future task that may arise. We have also demonstrated how vital communication, discipline and teamwork are, and we will only grow from this point out.” In addition, Lootah highlights that the safety and wellbeing of its employees remain top priority. He says: “Every step is being taken throughout this challenging period to ensure team members are fully protected against exposure to potentially harmful situations, both in terms of the high-quality safety equipment we provide and the comprehensive preparations undertaken during training. As frontline staff in the battle against COVID-19, our team members are performing a vital service to the nation.” Future Lootah believes that in the future there will be a higher demand in deep cleaning and disinfection services. Imdaad has already expanded its team in anticipation and set a mobile specialised cleaning team in place. Lootah says: “We are witnessing an increased demand for deep-cleaning services, and this trend seems set to continue for the foreseeable future. Nobody can say for sure when things will return to normal, or what that ‘normal’ may look like. But we believe that the global COVID-19 pandemic has certainly highlighted the importance of maintaining a clean and hygienic environment, as well as the potential for germs to spread if sanitary procedures are not followed in the correct ways.” Lootah concludes by saying: “As one of the region’s leading FM service providers, we are well placed to cope with any significant growth in demand and will continue working to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of the communities we serve and the nation as a whole.” Jamal Abdulla Lootah, group CEO, Imdaad. CLEANING AND DISINFECTION 34 May 2020www.fm-middleeast.com Has COVID-19 exposed only weaknesses in the FM industry? Greg Ward, managing director of Transguard, off ers a surprising (and hopeful) counterpoint Over recent weeks we have seen governments, industries, companies and individuals being pushed to previously unthinkable limits. It has been the world’s worst reality show, where each of the contestants is constantly assaulted with new and more terrifying problems to solve while the stakes constantly grow higher around them. It has been grim, tense, anxious, frustrating and difficult. And yet. Over recent weeks we have seen doctors, nurses, policemen, the military, cleaners, security guards, delivery drivers and warehouse staff ( just to name a few) THE WORLD’S BEST AND WORST REALITY SHOW demonstrate what it means to be a hero. It has been the world’s most life-affirming reality show, where contestants rise above their challenges, put it all on the line and do everything they can to fight against the rising tide. It is proof that hope is most definitely alive in the human spirit. Starring in both reality shows is the FM industry. Like the other businesses profiled on these pages, COVID-19 and all of its unintended consequences have done their best to pull the rug out from under Transguard, and we’ve had to make some difficult decisions in order to ensure that our company is even stronger once the pandemic is over. For example, in March our management staff took a pay cut of AED1m to show their solidarity with our 12,000 site-based employees who we were forced to make idle due to paused or cancelled contracts. Was this the easiest choice to make? Absolutely not. But was it the right decision, both financially and in terms of morale all across the business? 100%. The feedback I’ve heard from people both in and out of Transguard has reinforced my belief that by striking a tone of support and cohesion within our own company we are setting a standard to which other service providers will be expected to aspire, most especially in the FM sector. This leads to my next point, which stands in stark contrast to so many of the Transguard carrying out fogging operations.CLEANING AND DISINFECTION May 2020 35www.fm-middleeast.com headlines that dominate my news feed (and probably yours as well): COVID-19 has exposed our strengths. I have many examples, but three in particular are having a galvanising effect on our business. Transguard’s training is second to none, and in response to the massive upswing in market demand for cleaning and fogging we equipped many of those same idle staff with the knowledge, skills and PPE they need to help fight the virus. This had the multi-fold benefit of expanding the skills of our workforce, which in turn grew our pool of available talent, which further ensured that we were more than ready to cope with the increased demand. Employing a veritable “army” of professional cleaners that can be dispatched at a moment’s notice adds to our existing USPs and potential clients have yet another incentive to work with us. Meanwhile, Transguard’s capacity for innovation has always been apparent, whether that’s in new service lines or in the way we constantly raise the bar for customer service, but in response to COVID-19 we’ve pushed even our own boundaries and created entirely new physical products. Our three new Misting Tunnels were conceptualised, designed and built by our in-house team and because they are incredibly efficient in terms of both sanitisation and cost, they have quickly become one of our most popular managed services. Not only that, we’re also tapping into a completely new client base with an automotive option that sanitises cars, trucks and lorries in a matter of seconds. At the root of everything we accomplish; however, is one common denominator: Our people. From the ground up, Transguard is blessed with passionate, loyal team players who have gone above and beyond in their dedication to our company and their fellow employees. I have often spoken about the importance of building the right team, but the events of 2020 have given me even more reasons to be grateful for the people who have wholeheartedly embraced new challenges and surprised even themselves with the results; the people who not only answer the phone in the middle of the night but who have the answers I need when I do call; the people who are consistently positive and the ones who doggedly chase down solutions to problems that they couldn’t have imagined six months ago. What does all of this mean for the reality show we’re all unwillingly participating in and, more specifically, for the FM industry? For starters, the world has woken up to the fact that good FM is absolutely vital. Before COVID-19, FM was largely an after-thought and, as we all know, one of the first things to be cut from budgets. In a post-virus world, I hope clients wouldn’t make that same decision, or at least not as quickly. To me, it is obvious that if we want to do more than survive, it is imperative that we dig deeper, think more strategically and work more aggressively to break out of old habits so that we can meet these new challenges. However, none of that should come at the expense of the heroes on the front line. After all, whether we’re the star players or have a supporting role in the fight against COVID-19, our ultimate responsibility as the FM industry is to emerge with our humanity intact. BEFORE COVID-19, FM WAS LARGELY AN AFTER- THOUGHT AND, AS WE ALL KNOW, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS TO BE CUT FROM BUDGETS. IN A POST-VIRUS WORLD, I HOPE CLIENTS WOULDN’T MAKE THAT SAME DECISION, OR AT LEAST NOT AS QUICKLY. Greg Ward, managing director of Transguard. CLEANING AND DISINFECTION 36 May 2020www.fm-middleeast.com Mohamed Adil Haneef, COO at AG Facilities Solutions, and through its cleaning subsidiary MBM, explains what goes on during disinfection and sterilisation in Dubai Disinfection and sterilisation is the process of reducing and eliminating harmful pathogenic microorganisms from inanimate objects, explains Mohamed Adil Haneef, COO at AG Facilities Solutions. He says: “While sterilisation describes a process that destroys or eliminates all forms of microbial life and is carried out in health- care facilities by physical or chemical methods, disinfection describes a process that eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms, except bacterial spores, usually by liquid chemicals. Unlike sterilisation, disinfection is not sporicidal.” Disinfection is usually performed using approved chemicals, disinfectants, sanitisers and wipes. Fogging/ misting machines, drones and spray machines can also be used to disinfect large areas, offices, communities and public and municipal spaces. AG Facilities through its cleaning subsidiary MBM has been actively involved from the onset of COVID-19 in various disinfection and cleaning drives. Haneef says: “We are amongst the companies approved by Dubai Municipality to offer cleaning and disinfection services. We have carried out extensive disinfection services across UAE and spanning government entities, municipal areas, hospitals, banks, malls, educational institutions, retail chains, offices and residential communities. In additional, we have also been contracted to carry out periodic disinfections (daily and weekly) at various offices, camps, schools and vehicle fleets.” Since the outbreak of COVID-19, AG Facilities has ramped up awareness campaigns with all its staff at offices, camps, sites and transportation. Haneef says: “Awareness campaigns, toolbox talks and HSE trainings have been DECODING DISINFECTION made in multiple formats – posters, videos, training sessions and in multiple languages. We have also engaged government authorities, medical professionals and other subject matter experts to provide guidance in drafting the content. Specific SOP’s have been drafted to cover sanitisation, personal hygiene, office hygiene, and camp hygiene.” Technology has been used extensively to communicate constantly with all its employees who are at the sites and working from home. Additionally, the firm is supporting its sub-contractors and vendors to ensure that the message is spread as pervasively as possible. Business continuity plans, quick reaction teams and command centers, customer care support and quarantine camps and vehicles have been established to ensure correct remedial process is followed in case of any incident, adds Haneef. On the skillsets needed to carry out disinfection in the region, Haneef says that reputed regional FM companies which have robust ISO, industry certifications and the skillset can perform the disinfection activities. He says: “They should ensure that proper SOP’s are drafted to incorporate the machinery and chemicals approved by local authorities. “However, what is lacking is the limited use of automated machinery in the disinfection process. The current process is still carried out manually rather than using drones/ robotics to deliver the services. Another drawback that most FM companies are facing is in the supply chain and logistics. There is either a shortage of chemical/ equipment or time lags due to either production not meeting the demand or disruptions in logistics. Local manufacturing companies have tried to plug the gaps but still there is an immense scope of improvement.” Mohamed Adil Haneef, COO at AG Facilities Solutions.GOLD SPONSORSPLATINUM SPONSOR Visit www.mepmiddleeast.com/awards for more information or contact one of the team today SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS TODAY Wednesday 30th September 2020 The MEP Middle East Awards are an opportunity to highlight the excellence in MEP design and installation underpinning those iconic projects contributing to the evolving construction landscape in the Middle East. FOR SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES Anup Nagpurkar Group Sales Manager +971 4 444 3373 + 971 52 895 0931 anup.nagpurkar@itp.com FOR NOMINATION ENQUIRIES Tom Oxtoby Editor, MEP Middle East +971 4 444 3419 tom.oxtoby@itp.com FOR EVENT ENQUIRIES Teri Dunstan Events Manager +971 4 444 3227 teri.dunstan@itp.com FOR TABLE BOOKING ENQUIRIES Anthony Chandran Table Sales Executive +971 4 444 3865 anthony.chandran@itp.comwww.fm-middleeast.com38 May 2020 PLATINUMSILVER FACILITIES & CONTRACTING MEET THE JUDGES The FM Middle East Awards 2020 will be judged through a blind ballot cast by the panel of judges. Have a look at our esteemed judges selected from the Middle East’s facilities management community. The magazine’s editorial team will cast the deciding vote in case of a tie. SARA MOMTAZ: With over 20 years of experience, Sara Momtaz is a recognised industry expert in the facilities & workplace management, property management & real estate and asset management field. Renowned and qualified as a Fellow “FIWFM” (most prestigious grade) member of the IWFM UAE Chapter and MEFMA Strategic Committee, Momtaz held senior executive positions with Khidmah (subsidiary of Aldar), QBG Facilities Management Group, Abu Dhabi National Hotels Compass (a joint venture Abu Dhabi National Hotels & Compass Group), Damac Holding and the Al Fara’a Group. ALAN MILLIN: Alan Millin is a UK- based property investor and architectural photographer. He has extensive international building services experience, having worked in Europe, the South Atlantic, and the Middle East, with almost 25 years in the GCC region, including well over a decade as an independent facilities management consultant and trainer. He has designed, developed, and delivered a range of successful FM training programs to the region’s FM professionals. GOPAKUMAR PILLAI: Gopakumar Pillai is the vice president FM & acting head of property management at Dubai International Financial Centre with 23 years of experience in facilities management, retro commissioning, energy efficiency management and property management. Pillai served various functions within leading developers such as Emaar, Dubai Properties and Dubai Asset Management. In his role at Emaar, he supervised FM mobilisation, coordinating, and overseeing the execution of maintenance policy, procedures, plans, and programmes at Burj Khalifa –the world’s tallest tower. A LOOK AT THIS YEAR’S ESTEEMED PANEL OF JUDGES AT THE FM MIDDLE EAST AWARDS 2020www.fm-middleeast.com CATEGORY May 2020 39 BILL HEATH: George William Heath (Bill) has over 40 years experience in the construction, property and service based industries. Having worked in the Far East, Middle East and Europe., Heath spent 20 years in managing a variety of development projects and more recently spent 20 years in leading management roles in developing and growing asset and facilities management (FM) businesses including CBX, Macro and Macro International. CRAIG ADAMS: A Scottish national residing in UAE since 2007, Craig Adams is a well-rounded business leader and has an outstanding record of achieving increased revenue and sustainable profit growth in various environments including Facilities Management, Construction and Community Development. Adams boasts more than 27 years’ working experience servicing a host of clients such as Emaar, Etihad, Luke Oil, DWTC, GEMS, Abu Dhabi Council, Dubai Municipality, Dubai South and Meraas. Adams is currently the managing director of Palladium Alpha. Next >