Keeping your cool
Dave Rudge, Operations Manager at REACT Specialist Cleaning, gives us some tips for cleaning during the heatwave.
Hot environments make everyone’s jobs more difficult to complete, but for cleaners the UK’s current record-high temperatures will prove particularly challenging.
Cleaning tasks often necessitate outdoor work and toxic chemicals require cleaners to wear heavy, airtight coveralls, which are quick to become very hot. The cleaning jobs often require heavy gear too, which demands serious physical exertion from the user to operate. The heat can also affect the surfaces they clean, presenting several challenges to standard operating procedures.
To ensure their employees remain safe and effective, cleaning companies must consider the different working conditions and make appropriate adjustments.
Ensuring safety and comfort
There are no specific regulations guiding the cleaning industry specifically on its operations during hot weather. There are also no laws restricting what temperatures cleaning operatives are allowed to work in, as some industries require people to work in high temperatures.
Nevertheless, cleaning companies must act according to the UK’s Health and Safety at Work Act, which secures the rights of employees while at work. This means employers have a duty of care towards the people who work for them.
The good thing is, there are several quick and simple actions companies can take to improve the working conditions of their cleaners. First, managers should offer their staff more frequent breaks while on shift and ensure they have access to drinking water. Working in the heat is tiring, and these breaks will allow them to rest and rehydrate. Company vehicles should also be fitted with functional air conditioning units where possible.
Investing in specialised hot-weather cleaning uniforms is another effective measure cleaning companies can take. Short-sleeved and breathable overalls, where appropriate, can make cleaners’ work a lot more comfortable. Although the cost might put some finance executives off, cleaners will do better and more efficient work in more appropriate clothing. It’s worth the extra investment.
Employers considering greater measures might also think about adjusting their workers’ shift patterns. Those working outside, for example, might find it easier to work in the early mornings, evenings, or night-time. It’s worth surveying employees before making any drastic shift changes though, as some will have external commitments and others might struggle to adjust to different schedules. Sleeping during high daytime temperatures may also prove challenging.
Adapting cleaning practices
The worst affected cleaners by this summer’s heatwave are those working outside – removing graffiti from trains,
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for example. That’s not only because the conditions are less comfortable, but also because the task itself can prove more difficult. Exterior surfaces are vulnerable to direct sunlight, which can require a different approach.
When metal heats up, many cleaning chemicals and liquids will simply evaporate the moment they touch its surface. Fluids and dirt that have been exposed to the sun may also change their qualities. Some may soften and some may harden, requiring more aggressive methods of cleaning.
Proper planning can mitigate some of these challenges. For example, trains can be moved indoors to workhouses during the day, which will provide the necessary shade for the task to be carried out. Thinking ahead, managers could also arrange for shades or tents to be set up around exterior surfaces before the scheduled clean, which will allow them time to cool down.
Cleaning companies should also do their best to equip employees with a wide variety of equipment to carry out their tasks. This will allow them to tackle any substance encountered (in whatever condition), without having to delay or accept a lower standard of outcome. Listening to employees about the challenges they’re facing will prove crucial in this respect.
Most of us are now counting the days to the cooler temperatures of September, but in the meantime, work needs to be done. Following this guidance, cleaning companies will be able to continue carrying out safe and effective work.
www.reactsc.co.uk twitter.com/TomoCleaning
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