Gold standard GBAC STAR accreditation for Office Space in Town

Office services and flexible workspace provider, Office Space in Town (OSiT), has achieved GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, at its five London, England, locations. The accreditation validates that each office location has achieved the gold standard of workspace cleaning and hygiene and recognises the company’s post-pandemic focus on office health and safety.

The OSiT properties in London that have achieved GBAC STAR accreditation are Blackfriars, Liverpool Street, Monument, St Paul’s, and Waterloo.

Through an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) pledge, OSiT is committed to improving operations to meet the highest standard of environmental care. Achieving GBAC STAR accreditation and championing workspace cleanliness is an extension of OSiT’s ESG efforts.

The last two years have brought increased scrutiny to the hygiene practices of offices. OSiT’s own survey from June 2021 identified a clear worker wish list for a return to the office in which workplace cleanliness featured prominently: hand sanitiser at desks (56 per cent), sneeze screens (48 per cent), temperature checks on arrival (40 per cent) and additional cleaning measures (36 per cent).

As part of the accreditation, OSiT had to demonstrate it has excellent cleaning procedures in place and detail how it monitors this through audits and risk assessments. OSiT worked closely with its cleaning partner, Office Space Cleaning and Facilities Management (OSCFM), to ensure all cleaners and contractors were trained in proper cleaning procedures and health and safety. OSiT was also required to prove the existence of its worker health programme.

Niki Fuchs, CEO at OSiT, said: “We are extremely proud that all of our London centres now have GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation. OSiT has always placed workplace hygiene and employee health as number one priorities in both the designing and maintenance of its centres, so it is fantastic to obtain validation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council and ISSA that our practices meet the gold standard. We look forward to continuing this work and ensuring our centres’ cleanliness remains at the highest level possible.”

Patricia Olinger, Executive Director at GBAC, said: “By achieving GBAC STAR, OSiT continues to evolve and grow their ESG strategy by investing in the highest standards in indoor cleanliness. As offices around the world return to in-person work, it’s imperative that employees feel confident in the cleanliness, safety, and resilience of their workplace. This third-party, international accreditation offers OSiT employees and guests the peace of mind they’ve come to expect after the global pandemic.”