CLEANING


TAKING CLEANING SAFETY TO NEW HEIGHTS


Working at height specialists HLS are increasing awareness of the risks of cleaning above ground level, here, they advise on how added protection can save you from potential legal issues and added costs.


We all instinctively know that cleaning is important, for everything from food hygiene, to infection control, cleaning is one of our most efficacious lines of defence. Cleaning covers a really wide variety of activities, according to the all- knowing Google, to clean means to “make clean; remove dirt, marks, or stains” which could encompass all kinds of activities from laundry to clearing out gutters.


In addition to the obvious benefits of a clean environment, research has shown psychological benefits; most of us do feel more positive when our environment feels clean. One researcher even found that school children were better able to concentrate on learning when their classroom environment was clean and well maintained. And yet cleaning can have a very low profile when it comes to allocating budget, most NHS hospitals, for example, have outsourced cleaning to save on cost, and research shows that cleaners are perceived as low status members of hospital teams, which can lead to issues with low motivation.


HAZARD PERCEPTION Despite its perceived low status,


cleaning is a tough job, and sometimes dangerous; studies in the US showed cleaning employees had nearly twice the rate of injury claims compared with general service industry employees, with the most serious claims resulting from over-exertion and falls. The same study found that cleaners are exposed to numerous hazards including ladder use, lifting and carrying, and other risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders.


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The study supported the idea of engaging cleaners themselves in the process of improving their work situation to reduce risk and improve their health outcomes. This collaborative approach is something that HLS advocate when we work with companies to identify safer and more effective ways of working for their employees. Our own research has shown that the best outcomes for new methods of work come when employees are involved in determining the solution, leading to greater user adoption of new ways of working, and ultimately a better return on investment for the organisations investing time and money into change programmes.


At Height Lift & Shift we help our clients to work in the safest and most productive way possible when carrying out tasks that involve working at height. Wherever something needs to be cleaned at a height above a person’s reach, while standing on the ground we look to provide advice and support to help keep cleaning and maintenance employees safe and productive in their work.


ONLY FOOLS


WOULD RISK IT We recently had a client contact us looking for a solution for a small chain of gastro pubs that needed their employees to be able to reach chandeliers above the dining tables that had to be spotless. Anyone who’s ever seen that episode of Only Fools & Horses will know how difficult cleaning chandeliers can be, but it doesn’t need to be that way!


While the first rule of working at height is to remove the need to work at


height, this wasn’t an option for them; long-handled cleaning tools were not effective, and lowering the lights for cleaning was not practical, so we looked together at how employees could safely get both themselves and their cleaning equipment to the right height to be able to clean the chandeliers without risk to themselves or the chandeliers. Using our knowledge of the available equipment, alongside the company’s knowledge of their facilities and requirements meant we could come up with a solution that is easily adopted and makes the job quicker, and easier – both key factors in ensuring people use the equipment provided and not a nearby chair or table.


HEALTH AND SAFETY HAS


NOT GONE MAD That last point is also pertinent, the UK media can be very negative towards health & safety culture, and yet the attention we pay to keeping workers safe has been shown to have economic benefits. This means that allowing people to take risks with their own safety, such as using a chair or table to reach something that needs cleaning, where there is no possibility of edge protection, or a hand hold, or anything to stabilise themselves if they wobble, is not only potentially damaging to their health, it also puts your organisation at short- term risk of litigation, and long-term risk of economic under-performance.


Cleaning is a necessity in every workplace in the country, none more so than in our schools and hospitals. Another American study found that schools with effective cleaning regimes benefitted from improved performance in tests; fewer sick days


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