Setting basic workplace cleaning standards and keeping to them

A regular audit of your workplace cleaning measures could go a long way towards protecting your most important assets. Company owners and facility managers should consider the following when it comes to workplace cleaning.

The implications of not having a proper cleaning plan in place can be far reaching. It boils down to the protection of your capital layout as well as preserving the good reputation of your organisation,

says Malcolm Stephens, Divisional Executive Fidelity Cleaning Services.

The potential financial loss suffered if your company has to halt operations because of a workplace injury or fatality could be devastating. It simply makes more sense to do the right thing and make sure your floor or office space is clean and safe for every employee.

Stephens recommends that all facility managers or office managers conduct a proper inspection into the cleaning measures that are in place, so that any updates or changes can be implemented as soon as possible.

This inspection should focus on areas such as:

• How rigorous is the cleaning schedule? Does it adequately prevent the build-up of dirt, grime and grit?

• What measures are in place that deal specifically with high-traffic areas, such as loading zones?

• If your cleaning is done in-house, have you invested in suitable sweeping, scrubbing and vacuuming systems?

• It is also worth checking that they have been provided with the safest and most effective cleaning products that meet all the relevant and applicable health and safety standards in the industry you operate in.

Clutter is another aspect of workplace cleanliness that should not be neglected. Our advice to managers is to ensure that lesser used items are moved out of the way to a storage space, to prevent them from standing around in busy areas where it could become a safety risk.

If you are unsure about the measures you have applied at your workplace, my advice is to contact a reputable cleaning service provider to visit your building and conduct an assessment. It is ultimately in your company’s best interest to put the best possible standards in place and to continue adhering to them,

concludes Stephens.