Schools must prepare for new waste disposal responsibilities ready for the roll-out of the lateral testing process, advises facilities services provider phs Group. New mass testing is being introduced across education designed to rapidly identify and contain asymptomatic cases of COVID-19. Settings are being provided with test kits and PPE for the testing of all staff, all secondary school-age pupils and students aged 19 to 25 with education, health and care (EHC) plans. But the scheme is set to produce thousands of used tests each day across the country which cannot be disposed of within standard waste streams. As the lateral flow tests are classed as a non-hazardous chemical waste, they must be segregated and incinerated.

Leading compliance and facilities management provider phs Compliance has acquired OCS Compliance, part of the OCS UK Group. As part of the deal, phs Compliance will become the preferred supplier of compliance services to OCS Group. OCS Compliance delivers a range of electrical and environmental compliance services to several hundred customers across multiple sectors in the UK. Their services include portable appliance testing, fixed electrical testing and inspection, and thermal imaging and emergency lighting maintenance.

Organisations are being called upon to do more to make their premises COVID-safe as facilities services provider phs Group addresses the airborne risk of the coronavirus. The new phs Index report reveals as many as 14% of UK premises closed their doors in November under the latest wave of restrictions. The most impacted sectors are the arts, entertainment and recreation and food services and accommodation with more than half of premises shutting down at the peak of restrictions (54% and 51% respectively).

It’s not too late to order your decorated Christmas trees as a new poll reveals consumers say Christmas won’t be the same this year if local businesses don’t decorate for the festive season. With a question mark over the extent to which the nation can celebrate Christmas this year, new independent research by horticulture services firm phs Greenleaf shows consumers are crying out for some festive cheer on the high street.

Crate rental provider phs Teacrate has expanded with the opening of a second wash facility following increased demand set to create up to 20 new jobs. Located in Durham, the new wash facility supports the continued growth of Teacrate’s business in the food sector, providing crate rental, handling equipment, packaging products and a tailored wash service to customers. With the coronavirus pandemic accelerating hygiene practices to the top of the agenda, Teacrate has experienced a surge in demand from food and retail businesses for crate washing.

New data released by facilities services provider phs Group reveals one in 20 premises remain closed after 43% were shut down during the coronavirus lockdown. In London, the impact is even more pronounced with the city failing to attract people back in the aftermath of stringent COVID-19 lockdown measures. The new phs Index, published six-months on from the onset of lockdown, reports that 95% of organisations (businesses, governmental and non-governmental organisations) across the UK are now open following widespread closures; translating to one in 20 which are still shut down. However, Central London is lagging behind the UK with just 90% of premises open; equating to one in 10 which is still closed

Facilities services provider phs Group has bolstered its floorcare business with the acquisition of the floorcare and associated hygiene services division of workwear and industrial wiper rental services firm Lindström UK. With more than 50 years’ experience providing floorcare services across the UK, phs offers market-leading floor mats with a quality service across all sectors. It will acquire the floorcare business of Lindström which has traditionally provided spill and absorbent mats for industrial and commercial organisations. phs will take on all of Lindström’s floorcare customers, effective from September 21.

Workplace consumables provider phs Direct has launched a new partnership with industry distributor Cheeky Panda to offer an extensive new range of environmentally-conscious toilet rolls, tissues and wipes.

Leading hygiene services provider phs Group has launched a new service which will see Covid-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as single-use masks, being managed safely amid warnings it is becoming the latest danger to ocean life. PPE waste collected from phs PPE waste bins will be diverted from landfill and converted into energy, ensuring it is disposed of both responsibly and sustainably.

Property and facilities management services firm phs Compliance has launched a new coronavirus surface swab test as part of a range of measures to support businesses reopen safely as lockdown measures ease. The new surface testing service alerts businesses if their premises are contaminated by Covid-19 and helps identify infected areas, enabling them to take action. The ability to swab test premises for Covid-19 is particularly important following reports infected droplets can contaminate indoor surfaces and remain there for several days, spreading the infection. The surface swab test is undertaken by expertly-trained testers at all workplaces, on everything from door handles and desks to machinery and is carried out in line with World Health Organisation guidelines.