Ask the Expert:
An Education In Floor Cleaning
Natalie Dowse, Marketing and Product Manager for Truvox International Ltd, offers some tips to ensure floor cleaning results come out top of the class.
Q:
just in the UK but right across the world, then schools, colleges and universities would surely be in the top three. Conventional term times are obviously busy, but these buildings are now also increasingly used out of conventional hours and dates. Before and after-school clubs, PTA/Student Union meetings, fundraising events, sporting activities, evening classes – the list goes on. This means that cleaning services need to be constant but fl exible, providing a top class, clean and hygienic environment, which doesn’t inhibit the use or enjoyment of the buildings or facilities.
A:
Flooring in schools needs to stand up to some tough treatment. Footfall is extremely heavy – from pupils, students, staff and other visitors – plus there are numerous deliveries to contend with, and the movement of items such as chairs, desks and sporting equipment. A huge amount of dirt and debris is walked into educational establishments every day, and seasonal issues such as snow, ice and fallen leaves add to the demands made of fl oor cleaning regimes.
Clean fl oors are essential in educational environments for a number of reasons, but fi rst and
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Educational facilities are challenging environments
to keep clean, requiring a fl exible and knowledgeable approach. Do you have any advice for how to tackle these tasks?
If you were to compile a list of the busiest facilities, not
foremost, dirty fl oors constitute a slip risk, compromising safety for everyone using the buildings. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 55% of all accidents in education are caused by a slip or trip; it stated that, last year, the HSE received almost 2,000 reports of major injury slip and trip accidents in the educational sector, which constituted a 5% increase on the previous year.
In its bulletin for schools, colleges and universities – ‘Watch Your Step in Education’ – the HSE advises those involved in school management and maintenance to:
• Get the design right – such as designated walkways in the right place, canopies over doorways and suffi cient storage facilities
• Fit the right fl oor and keep it maintained
• Put in the right fl oor cleaning system
• Provide the right cleaning equipment in the right place
• Check that cleaning and maintenance procedures are being followed
• Supply enough rubbish bins
It also highlights the important role that cleaning operatives and caretakers can play, offering some essential, common sense advice:
• Follow fl oor cleaning instructions
• Use the right cleaning product in the right quantity
• Use equipment • Clean up spills
If you have a question for the expert, please email:
caroline@opusbm.co.uk Your question could be featured in the next issue of Tomorrow's Cleaning.
www.tomorrowscleaning.com
• Deep clean at the end of each day
• Don’t create new hazards • Report maintenance issues
The term, ‘new hazards’, can allude to the problems caused by additional obstacles, such as trailing leads and power cables. This issue can be addressed by using battery-powered machines, which are increasing in popularity not only because of their safety aspects, but also their ease of transportation and maintenance. Machines must also be able to clean fl oors and leave them dry enough to walk on in the quickest time possible, as wet fl oors present another signifi cant slip hazard. Models that are quiet in operation are also more suited to educational environments, as they provide the least disruption during lessons, and especially at exam times.
When it comes to cleaning in educational establishments, safety is just as important as delivering the highest hygiene standards. By choosing a fl oorcare specialist that has a proven track record in providing successful services in these locations, schools, colleges and universities can rest assured they have the best ‘teacher’ when it comes to fl oor cleaning.
www.truvox.com
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