Risk
assessment should be carried out to control any hazards that cleaning
operatives and office building users may encounter from the carrying out cleaning operations
on site. Sponsored
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The
main hazards encountered by an office cleaner are;-
Manual
Handling
Cleaning
operatives should be made aware of the risk from manual handling tasks including
instruction in how to lift correctly.
-
Assess
the load and plan the route prior to the lift.
-
Remove
any obstructions or hazards from your route.
-
Use
mechanical aids where possible.
-
Wear
suitable footwear ideally with steel toe caps.
-
Beware
of sharp objects.
-
Lift
load with heaviest side to the body.
-
Keep
the feet
apart, bend knees, keep a straight back.
-
Keep
the load close to the body, take a firm grip and lift maintaining a
straight back at all times.
-
Lift
smoothly to knee and then to waist level, moving forward without
twisting.
-
Reverse
procedure to put the load down.
Chemicals
Cleaning operative should be made aware of the risks involved in the use of cleaning
chemicals.
-
Select
a suitable product for the task to be undertaken.
-
Must
read safety data sheet prior to use.
-
Ensure
any personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn.
-
Dilute
chemicals as directed by the label.
-
Add
chemical to water.
-
Correctly
label all spray bottles and do not use unlabelled containers.
-
Never
mix chemicals as this may produce a toxic gas.
-
Ventilate
areas and place warning signs when using chemicals.
-
Clean
up any spillages immediately.
-
Dispose
of any unused or soiled solution as directed by the safety data sheet.
-
Rinse
and neutralise cleaning equipment after use.
-
When
not in use ensure chemicals are stored safely and securely.
-
Keep
chemicals out of the reach of children at all times.
Slips,
Trips and Falls
Cleaning operatives should be made aware of the risk from
trailing cables associated with the use of vacuum cleaners and other cleaning equipment.
Also the risk to building users with regards slipping on a wet floors immediately
after cleaning. Warning signs must be used when
carrying out floor cleaning operations.
Clinical
Waste
Clinical waste is mainly produced by hospitals or
health centers but on rare occasions office cleaners will come into
contact clinical waste so should be properly trained in order to keep
any such risks to a minimum.
Examples
of clinical waste in offices:
-
Vomit
-
Blood
-
Excretions
-
Syringes
Infection
Control
Would you use
the same cloth to clean a toilet as you would a workstation?
Colour coding of cloths should be used to minimise the risk of
cross contamination of micro –organisms. The list below shows
colour
coding as recommended by The
British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc).
-
Red
Cloths – Sanitary appliances and washroom floors
-
Yellow
Cloths – Wash basins and other washroom surfaces
-
Blue
Cloths – General lower risk areas (excluding food areas)
-
Green
Cloths – General food and bar use.
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