WATER DAMAGE AWARNESS FOR PROFESSIONAL CARPET CLEANERS

Adam Jankowski(BICSC MISSE Tech IoSH)

In general, professional carpet cleaning may be regarded as a low-risk activity especially if you compare it to, for example, the construction industry, health care or aviation. Of course, most of us know that we need to observe health and safety law in any business.

In the carpet cleaning community, COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Regulations 2002 could very well be the health and safety law that springs to mind first as the one that is the most relevant to us. Without taking anything away from other important health and safety legislation which may also apply, it probably is, but not for all the reasons you may think. COSHH is not just about chemicals. As a professional carpet cleaner, if you have not already been asked to, you will, at some point, be called to address issues with carpets that are related to water ingress or escapes of water in either residential or commercial buildings or both. These may include washing machine or dishwasher leaks, radiator leaks, bathroom and toilet overflows, leaks from the plumbing through ceiling voids etc. etc. The solution for many is to “suck up the water” with their “powerful” extraction machine and use some nice deodouriser products in their pre-sprays, rinses or trigger sprays to deal with the odour. Unfortunately, this approach is most likely to be inadequate and, setting aside the probability of having to deal with customer call backs, you may have done more harm than good, be liable for the poor practice and worked in contravention of COSHH. You need to consider the amount of water that has affected the area, all the materials that have been penetrated, areas where the water has flowed without having been detected, the duration articles have been wet and the biological contamination that has been introduced or developed like mould, for example. “Mould” in a building is a symptom of excess water (which includes excessive humidity) and under the more scientific term, “fungi”, is covered under COSHH Regulations as are bodily fluids, sewage, bacteria and viruses. It is therefore important for a carpet cleaner to know when the water they are dealing with is deemed sufficiently contaminated as to warrant appropriate controls to avoid spreading biological agents and causing harm to themselves and others. It is also important to know that unless materials (not just the carpet) are dried properly (as judged with the use of appropriate instruments) “mould” growth is probable or inevitable regardless of the products you use to “sanitise” the area or “kill” it.

A typical starter course for water damage restoration specialists would be three days but would be supplemented with many more days training over time. In January (Monday 18th), the NCCA has a one- day Water Damage Awareness day specifically designed to help carpet cleaners learn to do the right thing, stay out of trouble and how to increase revenue potential all at the same time. If you haven’t already done some water damage training of some kind, be there!!

THE RESTORATION ACADEMY UK LIMITED Adam has been involved in the cleaning and restoration industry since 1993, has served on the board of the NCCA (2001 to 2005), holds a National General Certificate in Safety and Health from NEBOSH and is currently an IICRC instructor in eight subjects which include Carpet Cleaning (CCT), Water Damage Restoration (WRT), Applied Structural Drying (ASD), Applied Microbial Remediation (AMRT) and Odour Control (OCT). Adam is also a WoolSafe Registered Carpet Inspector and The Restoration Academy UK Limited is an NCCA Corporate member.