Julian Khalil, Director of Soft Services, Farnek

Leading UAE-based technology and sustainability-driven facilities management (FM) company Farnek, is the first FM company in the Middle East to be accredited by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, the global cleaning industry trade association.

GBAC STAR is the cleaning industry's only outbreak prevention, response, and recovery accreditation. It helps organisations establish protocols and procedures, expert-led training, and assessment for a facility's preparedness for biorisk situations.

Julian Khalil, Director of Soft Services at Farnek, said: “This accreditation proves that we can quickly address biological threats and real-time crises and enable our customers to recover from such events. Other cleaning standards do not cover this level of detail.

“Therefore, it will be reassuring for our customers and the public at large, to know that this accreditation is performance-based and relies on comprehensive and ongoing training, covering disinfection techniques and cleaning best practices for biohazard situations.”

To be awarded the accreditation, Farnek had to demonstrate that it established and maintains a cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention program to minimise risks associated with infectious agents such as the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

Management also illustrated that cleaning staff adhere to proper cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques, and work practices in place to combat biohazards and infectious diseases.

In addition, Farnek’s skilled cleaning professionals are empowered to carry out their jobs safely and effectively. They are trained for outbreak and infectious disease preparation and response, assessing risk, and understanding the latest guidelines for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Recently, Farnek consultants supported The Dubai Mall throughout its accreditation process, making it the first shopping mall in the world to be awarded GBAC STAR accreditation. Moreover, Farnek has secured new contract wins within the educational sector. Scholars International Group (SIG), has awarded Farnek cleaning and disinfecting contracts for all three of its schools in Dubai and Sharjah.

“The Clarion School, Al Quoz, Dubai Scholars in Al Qusais, and Scholars International Academy in Sharjah will now benefit from Farnek’s unique cleaning and disinfecting solution, which will be embedded into a new daily sanitising routine. Along with fogging services, our comprehensive programme will bring each of the three schools up to the very highest international standards of cleanliness.

“In fact, SIG is so committed to maintaining the highest standards of cleaning and disinfection, that it is applying for GBAC accreditation, for all of its school facilities,” said Markus Oberlin, CEO, Farnek.

“Compliance with this standard will help instill the utmost confidence among parents and students, as they prepare to return to school for the new academic year in September. Society, in general, will need to embrace the positive change required as we move towards the ‘new normal,” he added.

Composed of international leaders in the field of microbial-pathogenic threat analysis, mitigation, response, and recovery, GBAC provides training, guidance, accreditation, certification, crisis management assistance, and leadership to government, commercial, and private entities looking to mitigate, quickly address, and recover from biological threats and real-time crises.

"Now is the time for businesses of every size to be transparent about the measures they're taking to protect customers and employees, including proper cleaning and disinfection," said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. "GBAC STAR programme participants demonstrate their commitment to going the extra mile by implementing prevention and response best practices that support health and safety,” he added.

Organisations from more than 30 countries in America, Europe, Middle East, and Asia have committed to accredit their facilities to GBAC STAR, including tourism bureaus, airports, convention centres, hotels, cultural institutions, professional sports parks, and stadiums.

Additional international industry groups that have already announced their support of GBAC STAR. Constituents include the International Facility Management Association (23,000 members), Informa Markets (500 brands and exhibitions), International Association of Exhibitions and Events (12,000 members), International Association of Venue Managers (7,000 members), and the Global Market Development Centre (400+ retail members).