AEON DELIGHT CO., LTD. launched the Advanced Course, its first program for training leaders of New Standard Cleaning, a cleaning service that incorporates original infection control measures, in September 2021 and 37 employees were certified as the first graduates on February 25, 2022. Those who have completed the advanced course will work as the leaders in the field of infection control cleaning, making proposals to customers regarding NSC quality improvement and infection control measures, and will also be responsible for training experts in the field as instructors. The standards related to "safety and security" required in facilities are changing due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection.

In light of this situation, in order to provide the better services that exceed the required standards, AEON delight has developed NSC as a new cleaning service that incorporates infection control measures. In providing NSC, the workers themselves need to understand the correct knowledge and procedures to prevent infection. To this end, AEON delight has created an original training program based on information accumulated through its hygiene control service*2 provided to hospitals in the past along with the latest research trends in infection control science.

To date, it has trained approximately 1,200 infection control cleaning specialists and provided NSC to about 150 facilities (as of January 31, 2022). Against this backdrop, in order to provide "safety and security" to as many customers as possible under the COVID-19 disaster, the company launched the Advanced Course in September 2021, a new leader training program, with the aim of developing human resources that can train specialists in infection control cleaning. During the three- session curriculum, participants from all over Japan learned about cleaning methods based on infection prevention and control measures, and infection prevention measures at the time of disasters such as heavy rains and earthquakes that occur frequently due to climate change.

After completing the entire curriculum, the company conducted an assessment and certified 37 people as the first graduates of the advanced course. Going forward, those who have completed the Advanced Course will be responsible for improving NSC's quality, conducting sales activities, and training on-site workers as leaders of the infection control cleaning team in each region. NSC's educational programs includes Basic course: This course teaches self-preventive measures against infections and basic work and infection control measures required to implement NSC.

Standard Course: This course trains personnel in managing high- frequency contact surfaces and carrying out quality evaluations. Those who complete the course are qualified to conduct infection control cleaning work. Advanced Course: This course trains personnel to become capable of conducting quality evaluations, staff training, and making improvement proposals.

The trained personnel will have detailed knowledge of infection control and can serve as the leaders of the Sanitation and Cleaning Specialists.