Facilities managers who want to fast-track achievement of the new ISO 41001 standard should look to their specialist suppliers for expertise and advice, says CleanSafe Services Managing Director Steve Broughton.
ISO 41001, a new quality standard specifically for the facilities management industry, was launched in April 2018. It provides a core set of standards to design FM management systems, creating standardised benchmarks for suppliers to work to.
Steve Broughton said the guidance within ISO 41001 will help FMs identify specialist suppliers that can help set and achieve the required benchmarks, a process that will also give ISO auditors additional assurance that the standard is being met.
Use specialist supplier expertise
He added: “ISO 41001 is a positive step forward because it should provide a clear roadmap to develop the best FM services. Part of the process will be to carry out gap analysis to see where operations may lack the expertise or resource needed to set the appropriate benchmarks.
“Our experience from delivering emergency and specialist services indicate that those gaps will exist. The best course of action, in my view, is for FMs to look to specialist contractors like CleanSafe Services, and draw on their expertise to fill those gaps.
“This is something we’re already used to doing in terms of providing clients with specialist advice, so we can work with FM clients within the quality framework set by ISO 41001.”
In a recent example, CleanSafe Services, one of the UK’s leading emergency and specialist cleaning providers, worked with London Gatwick Airport to create a step change in the way chewing gum was removed from concourse floors.
Gatwick’s sticky problem solved
CleanSafe operatives used specialist equipment and procedures to clean the floors to the highest possible standard, showing the in-house contractors how the job should be done.
Gatwick Airport Incident Manager Nick Henderson said: “CleanSafe filled a very niche and specialist function for us, to get our base cleaning standards to a higher level. It helps our core cleaning provider to maintain that standard.”
Steve Broughton said the introduction of ISO 41001 is likely to be a positive step forward for high quality specialist suppliers like CleanSafe Services because it dovetails with their own standards and will encourage FMs to take a more strategic approach to supplier relationships.
ISO 41001 – closer supplier partnerships
He said: “We work with a lot of facilities management providers. They already appreciate the added value we deliver in terms of expertise and standard setting. But the ongoing need to meet ISO 41001, which is certain to develop over time, should encourage an even closer partnership approach to delivering excellent service for clients.
“Facilities management specialists are also more likely to choose supply partners that have rigorous systems and processes in place, are innovative, and have a deep knowledge of their clients’ operations, so that can only be good for us.”
CleanSafe Services is part of a group of complementary specialist service providers. Other services include waste collection, pest control, and water safety management.
