Hygiene standards at the highest level
Akut SOS Clean offers hygiene stars for hotels, restaurants, offices and more
Frankfurt, September 7th, 2020. It has been tried and tested in crisis situations with viruses and germs for over 25 years: Marcell Engel, Managing Director of the Frankfurt company Akut SOS Clean GmbH. Due to his diverse practical experience, he is often asked for professional advice and now offers online training in response to popular demand from restaurateurs, hoteliers, offices and other companies. After completing this, the participants receive the hygiene star as a certificate. Below, MarcellEngel answers questions about how this came about and what the star means.
How did the idea for an online training course with a certificate in hygiene come about?
"This idea was brought to my attention. In my opinion, there are different reasons for this. On the one hand, due to the Corona virus, many companies are looking for ways to guarantee their customers, guests and employees the greatest possible safety when it comes to hygiene. This also affects a wide variety of industries. Everyone has one goal: to optimally protect themselves and their environment. On the other hand, this Corona crisis has made it clear how little people generally know about viruses and germs. As a result, there have been various expert opinions and different country regulations there is great uncertainty when dealing with the measures. With the Hygiene Star we provide companies – no matter how big or small – with a guide. This enables us to take an important step towards “successfully starting and managing business activities”.
What exactly do you offer companies?
"We are all aware that there will no longer be a normality as we knew it from the times before Corona. But we can develop ways to deal with the new circumstances. The most important thing, in my opinion, is to look forward positively and energetically. The lockdown has plunged many companies into a major economic and sometimes also personal crisis. I know this from many conversations and experiences. This gave rise to the question "How can we support?". The result was the hygiene star. In the online course, restaurant operators, hoteliers and of course all other interested companies learn how to make their locations germ-free and virus-free for guests and customers. This also applies to rooms with customer traffic and workplaces for employees. The companies receive the star as a certificate, which is a guarantee of the highest hygiene standards.”
What content do you teach in the course?
"First of all: The knowledge imparted in the course is based on the latest scientific findings and, above all, on the fact that it can be easily implemented in practice. To give an example: Proper ventilation is of particular importance. If the germs floating around in the air are kept as low as possible, this reduces the risk of infection enormously. The so-called "touch surfaces" also deserve close attention. Surfaces such as door handles are often touched by several people. There are several ways to keep these areas as germ-free as possible. For example, these are two points that are covered in the course. The course is therefore essentially practice-oriented.”
Do you provide tools that make practical implementation easier?
"We have developed checklists that show the correct cleaning and disinfection in a practical way. These are simple instructions for action. If all points have been completed accordingly, the rooms are safe to enter and use. In addition, participants receive a basic set with surface disinfection and a package of FFP2 masks with the certificate, so that they can immediately implement the knowledge they have learned. Because it is important to us to promote immediate and self-responsible action in all areas."
Who is the online training suitable for?
"For all companies that deal with guests, such as restaurants, cafés and hotels. In addition, all shops and offices that deal with customers on a daily basis. This of course also includes fitness studios, hairdressers and many more. Very important: We always think about the employees, for whom hygiene measures are also the be-all and end-all. Because they are the ones who are constantly in action. The Corona crisis has clearly shown how dependent we are on the women and men at the supermarket checkouts, in sales and storage, as well as behind the wheel of trucks, buses and trains - and many other areas. These are important examples. The list can of course be extended significantly.”
The hygiene course has just gone “online”. Do you already have registrations?
“A number of companies and teams registered before the course was online. The very people who encouraged me to do this were the first. I am pleased that demand is correspondingly high and that we have taken up and implemented the companies' suggestions for this course. I am sure that many will follow who would like to receive the hygiene star. In doing so, they demonstrate the guarantee of the highest hygiene standards and at the same time set themselves apart from the competition.”