When you hire someone to take care of your company’s commercial cleaning, you probably don’t think about what it takes to do their job, or even how hazardous it can be. Many people just consider how clean their office or workspace is going to look when the job is done, rather than what it took to get to that point.
Whether you’re curious or you just want to know what your cleaners combat on a daily basis, read on. Here are some of the many hazards involved in commercial cleaning. Some of these may surprise you!
Physical Hazards
Physical hazards exist for everybody in the workplace, including those who turn up to clean it. There are many things you can class as a physical hazard for someone doing your commercial cleaning. The more common ones are the equipment they use. If they are heavy to lift or move, or noisy to operate, then they are a physical hazard.
Repetitive movements such as mopping, vacuuming, and scrubbing are also hazardous – albeit hazards you can’t altogether avoid. It’s in the best interests of the cleaner to invest in as many ergonomically-friendly cleaning supplies as possible to benefit their comfort levels as they work.
Air Quality
Cleaning in small areas with chemicals, or during a time when a company doesn’t operate its HVAC system, can be quite challenging for cleaners. Without proper ventilation, harsh cleaning products can become quite overpowering. To combat air quality problems, many commercial cleaners will only use natural products and will be mindful of what they use in small, poorly-ventilated areas, too.
Chemical Hazards
Using green cleaning products can significantly reduce the risk of chemical hazards in the workplace, but not entirely. What’s more, each workplace has strict health and safety standards to follow, which means certain cleaning products must be used to comply.
Chemical hazards can also exist when products are not used as directed, or, once again, in a poorly-ventilated environment. Fortunately, many commercial cleaning experts know what it takes to keep themselves safe. They not only use products as directed but take all safety precautions. These precautions might include not breathing in fumes and avoiding contact with skin.
Biological Hazards
Biological hazards can be anything from mold and mildew through to pathogens and bacteria in, for example, a medical setting. All commercial cleaners must take care to avoid and minimise the risk of these hazards becoming a problem for themselves and others. They do so by wearing gloves and other protective clothing. A commercial cleaner’s employer will also have a general guide of precautions they must follow.
You may be surprised to learn that cleaners you hire to do a job are faced with some hazardous conditions and environments every day. As a business owner, it’s a good idea to address as many of them as possible with your cleaner to see whether any of them can be rectified. Otherwise, be confident that your cleaner knows what it takes to keep themselves safe.
