The future of cleaning
We speak with Dominic Ponniah, the CEO of Cleanology, about the future of cleaning in the ‘new normal’
How has the pandemic affected the demand for cleaning services?
Our clients’ needs are continuing to change frequently and rapidly. With businesses opening and then having to close again shortly after, it has been very difficult for our clients to plan ahead, and we’ve needed to manage client expectations around contractual obligations.
People will not agree
to long-term contracts, and they also want flexibility to turn cleaning on and off like a tap, but that’s simply not compliant with employment law.
Do you think clients’ cleaning needs will change forever as a result of the pandemic?
The Business Services Association (BSA) has suggested there could be long-term changes in the delivery of day- to-day cleaning at clients’ sites as they review their use of space. We are already seeing clients requesting four days per week cleaning, with whole companies working from home at least one day per week.
Meanwhile, office space is being reconfigured, with fewer desks and more space around them – the old days of cramming everyone in like sardines will become a thing of the past.
What new cleaning services have developed to respond to COVID-19?
The initial rush for PPE and hand sanitiser has diminished over time, though there has been a steady demand for pre-emptive disinfection cleans and fully dry sprays using ‘fogging’ technology in locations with suspected cases of COVID-19. Businesses are now required by law to complete a risk assessment before they open their workplaces following lockdown. As a consequence, there has been a rise in demand for professional risk assessments to highlight areas in need of cleaning and high-risk areas, to ensure that employees can return to a safe working environment.
We have also been providing advice for clients on what ‘sneeze screens’ might be needed, the physical reconfiguration of the workplace, and floor and wall signage to help staff and visitors maintain social distancing.
44 | CONTRACT CLEANING
“People want flexibility to turn cleaning on and off like a tap, but that’s simply not compliant with employment law.”
How have cleaning regimes been adapted to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in the workplace?
Cleaning services are now very much focused on providing a risk-free environment for our cleaning operatives as well as our clients. We have changed our cleaning regime slightly, using portion-controlled biotech sachets (which are more efficient as they carry on ‘eating’ the dirt after they’re used) for general cleaning, and new anti-virucidal cleaning products for higher risk touchpoints.
We have also introduced new daytime cleaning regimes with high visibility cleaning throughout the day to give our clients’ staff and visitors peace of mind that cleanliness and hygiene is a top priority.
What other measures have been introduced to protect cleaning operatives and clients from COVID?
We aim to ensure that even if our cleaning staff are exposed to the virus, we have plans in place to prevent infection. We have introduced a number of new measures designed to keep our clients safe on their premises, including compulsory operative hand washing on arrival, strict social distancing measures and a new touch-free time and attendance system.
All cleaning operatives are, of course, required to wear face masks and disposable gloves at all times on site, and we have been providing regular toolbox talks and online training to ensure our operatives understand and implement all the new requirements.
What lessons will the government and industry be taking forward?
The British Cleaning Council has recognised the opportunity for government and the cleaning industry to review lessons learned during the pandemic and to use this experience to collectively increase skills training for operatives.
Despite doing largely ‘invisible’ and often under-appreciated work, cleaning operatives are now considered keyworkers and recognised as professionals. It took a pandemic for that to happen.
www.cleanology.com
twitter.com/TomoCleaning
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