The Australian Department of Health has warned businesses not to use a COVID-19 training program to market their services, after a Sydney-based cleaning company called Bacteria Busters featured a completion certificate on its website.
The company's website, which describes the business as "coronavirus cleaning specialists", features footage of workers in hazmat suits and personal protective equipment using foggers and sprayers.
Operations manager Ariel Gallo denied the business claimed its cleaning services could kill the coronavirus.
"I'm not claiming that we're killing the virus — I'm not claiming I'm a corona-killer," he said.
"Nobody should be making that statement."
Training certificate for 'health care and support workers'
The Australian Government's official coat of arms is featured prominently at the bottom of the Bacteria Busters website, above the company's name.
It touts a certificate from the Department of Health for the completion of an online learning course.
"Australian Government Department of Health Infection Control Training COVID-19," reads the website.
The Federal Department of Health issued a warning to private businesses using the certificate to market their services.
"The Department does not endorse this or any other private cleaning company in relation to COVID-19," said a spokesperson in a statement to Background Briefing.
"Given its significance as the formal symbol of Australia, the Commonwealth Coat of Arms can only be used as permitted."
The course is free and can be completed by anyone in less than 30 minutes.
"While this is valuable training, it does not represent a qualification," said the spokesperson.
"COVID-19 Infection Control Training is a 30-minute online training module for health care and support workers in all settings (including disability and aged care), covering the fundamentals of infection prevention and control for COVID-19."
The Department said it was not aware of widespread use of the certificate by businesses for marketing purposes.
Website changed
When contacted by the ABC, Mr Gallo rejected that the website suggested his company's service was endorsed by the Australian Government.
"I don't believe so, I just believe that it's something that we have completed the certificate," he said.
"I've also noticed that several companies are doing that as well."
"I guess it assures people that you're not just jumping onto it, you have some form of understanding of the precautions that you need to take."
Mr Gallo said his company had been getting 3 to 4 jobs a week so far disinfecting apartment blocks and factories.
The ABC has confirmed that the servicing of one apartment block costs $3,000.
"We're calling ourselves a specialist, we've taken the COVID-19 infection control online training, we're using the products that have been recommended to combat, not kill, combat the virus," he said.
"We believe we have all the equipment to call ourselves a specialist."
Before Bacteria Busters was contacted by the ABC its website claimed that its team used "industrial-strength disinfectants with a broad-spectrum ability to kill bacteria and deactivate viruses".
Since being interviewed by the ABC, the wording on the Bacteria Busters website changed so that it now claims the ability to only "kill bacteria and potentially deactivate viruses".
