Cleaning seen as part of normal practice

For a long time it has been just as commonplace to have industrial cleaning equipment among your fleet of assets as forklifts and other materials handling equipment, says Briggs Equipment.

Companies have appreciated the benefits of a cleaning strategy as part of the maintenance of their operation.

Aside from the obvious influence that a well maintained working environment can have on employee morale and indeed those all-important first impressions for visitors, there is the impact on productivity. Clear aisles and walkways not only improve access but also reduce the risks of slips, trips and falls that bring their own consequences of reduced productivity, lost working time and potential workplace injury claims. Movements of goods around the workplace are unhindered by obstacles needing to be moved or spillages having to be avoided.

Beyond the logistical, there’s the mechanical factor. Discarded material such as pallet wrap is a hazard for moving vehicles. Damage caused to axles by plastic banding and strapping is an easily avoidable cost. Dust and other debris blocks radiators and clogs air filters. This disrupts planned maintenance schedules designed to keep your operation running smoothly and at minimal cost. Cleaning out these blockages, with its associated time-is-money delays, is a preventable issue.

Large corporations often issue clear guidelines for their sites and this can stem from expectations for presentation and also a commitment to ISO standards. Motivations for managing waste and recycling for 14001 compliance can extend to preventing skips of refuse blowing around not only your own yard but neighbouring sites too.

This appreciation for the merits of cleaning year-round are thrown into stark relief when a crisis hits and cleanliness suddenly becomes an issue for more serious and imminent reasons.

Sites that have had a confirmed Coronavirus case need to consider options before reopening and in many instances a practical solution is to include floors as well as desks and other work surfaces. This means not just doing vinyl flooring in receptions, toilets and first aid rooms but concrete floors in production areas and warehouses. This brings into consideration the contrast between manual cleaning, with a mop and bucket or sweeping brush versus the efficiency of a pedestrian or ride-on sweeper and scrubber dryer.

Large spaces can be an unproductive use of time to clean without using equipment tailor made for the job. Sweeping floors mechanically will prevent dust being dispersed into the atmosphere, landing elsewhere including on products in racking or clogging up ventilation systems. It will also represent a potential health hazard to employees with prolonged, repeated exposure.

Once floors are cleared of debris, a scrubber dryer is the effective choice to ensure a hygienic clean with chemicals appropriate to the surface as well as the contaminant being removed. Spillages or other potential slip hazards are dealt with effectively and also floor surfaces that may be degraded by the extended presence of harmful liquids will be protected. This routine maintenance can prove to be an effective long-term cost saving compared to the reinstating of damaged floor coatings.

2020 is set to become the year in which the subject of cleaning arrived on everyone’s agenda and it’s important that companies consider the scale of their operation when specifying the ideal approach.