FIGHTING THE WINTER FLU
Sean Fisher, MD of cleaning for Servest, outlines some top tips facilities managers can follow to prevent the spread of germs during the season of sickness.
We are all too aware that, with the change of seasons, comes the influx of bugs and illness going around the workplace. Flu symptoms usually crank up a gear in the winter months, but of course stomach bugs and various other sicknesses can strike at any time.
Take, for example, swine and bird flu – no-one could have predicted these outbreaks. The former surfaced again in the UK in September and the latter graced our shores for the second time in May this year. Put simply, the cleaning industry has to be vigilant whatever the weather, and ready for whatever challenges may come their way.
All working environments are susceptible to viral contamination of various natures, and the cleaning and wider FM team plays a pivotal role in preventing this for the staff in their buildings. At Servest, we have a number of initiatives designed to ensure our teams have the tools they need to protect the people they serve. We run regular “toolbox talks” – which are meetings with site managers that address the challenges posed by a particular time of year and how we can manage, and where possible, prevent them.
These management meetings also involve mapping a site’s touchpoints to ensure there’s a tailored cleaning provision in place, for wherever needs it most. There are additional obstacles to overcome in the wintery months, including workers commuting on busy, congested and germ-filled public transport, along with more temporary staff filling in for Christmas leave, which both pose new and difficult challenges for FMs and cleaners alike in the endeavour to protect their staff.
Fortunately, there are many ways the seasonal increase of sickness can be tackled and prevented. Appropriate
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signage, encouraging a clear handwashing policy, regular cleaning and effective cleaning schedules, are all integral to a clean and ‘well’ workspace. Being mindful of the products you use is also crucial, as hazardous products and chemicals can have a detrimental effect on the environment, and also a person’s health, if misused.
At Servest, we encourage an output model: cleaning for quality, as opposed to cleaning to tick a box. High risk areas, for instance, will require more cleaning than other zones – so a cleaning timetable isn’t necessarily the best way to ensure the right areas are being cleaned at the right times. Cleaning over the peak periods requires an element of flexibility, and monitoring footfall is also important.
Our partnership with Getronics allows us to assess how many visitors are using the facilities in addition to the overall footfall. At one of our retail stores, over 200 customers used the baby changing room on one day – without knowing that information, we wouldn’t be able to ensure that particular area was getting attention as and when it needed it.
The real key to a clean, healthy and functioning workspace is communication. Whether this is through regular meetings of key staff to implement health and safety/ cleaning policies among teams, clean signage and procedures around the premises, or simply providing the training and products required to keep your team well, the key is to hold open dialogues with the people in your space. Blend your managerial messages with the infrastructure on the ground, and you’ll be fit for the winter months ahead.
www.servest.co.uk WINTER MAINTENANCE | 31
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