DIV12/28: Making Daytime The Safer Time (10 April 2013)

Issue Date: 10 April 2013
Ref: DIV12/28

Trolley systems such as the TASKI Trolley allow cleaning staff to be self-contained. Scrubber driers in the TASKI range help keep floors clean and dry for optimum appearance and safety for building users.

MAKING DAYTIME THE SAFER TIME

One of the many challenges facing building service contractors who want to increase daytime cleaning is to introduce improved performance and productivity without compromising the safety and wellbeing of employees and the building’s occupants or users.

In many building care operations the main task is to clean floors and other hard surfaces. The benefits of using ultra microfibre cloths and mops for this type of application have long been established. In particular, their ability to clean surfaces without the use of chemicals means that operators can improve sustainability and reduce costs. In a daytime cleaning context they also eliminate the need to bring chemicals into the working area which promotes better safety for cleaning staff, building occupants and visitors.

The TASKI JM Ultra range of ultra microfibre mops, for example, combines superior floor cleaning performance with extended lifetime and improved ergonomics compared with traditional tools. The mops are guaranteed for 800 washes and offer excellent soil and microbial removal to support daily cleaning with reduced cost-in-use in demanding applications. The construction of the fibres ensures each mop has double the surface area compared with previous models. When used in a typical three-day rotation system each set of mops will last for six and a half years. This results in reduced contribution to overall cleaning costs and more efficient return on investment over longer periods.

Used dry or damp, ultra microfibre glides across the surface more easily which means staff complete their tasks more quickly and with less effort so that productivity is maintained through the working day. Unlike traditional wet-mopping there is no need to carry buckets of solution between preparation areas and the rooms being cleaned. This saves time and ensures less manual handling for employees. The simpler processes supported by ultra microfibre reduce the need for costly and time-consuming training and compliance processes. Purchasing and supply chain costs are also reduced when fewer or no chemicals are needed. Valuable storage space can instead be put to more productive uses.

Another approach to floorcare during daytime cleaning is to use a scrubber drier. These machines can be especially useful when cleaning large areas or when floors are likely to be heavily soiled or wet. Scrubber driers from the TASKI by Diversey range promote superior cleaning performance and ensure more than 99 per cent of the water is removed from the floor. This means floors can be walked on almost immediately, an important consideration in daytime cleaning applications because it reduces the risk of slips and trips. Clean and dry floors also enhance the appearance of the building which has a positive impact on the perceptions made by occupants and visitors.

When the public and bystanders are present it pays to be well organised. Trolley systems such as the TASKI Trolley allow cleaning staff to be self-contained and transport their products, tools and equipment easily and conveniently. There is little or no need to carry heavy items. In a properly configured trolley all items are positioned for convenient and ergonomic working to eliminate unnecessary movements. This is good for employees who will be more productive and less likely to suffer from back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders. Trolley systems can also be equipped with lockable containers that prevent bystanders from having access to products and equipment, which promotes safety and security. The TASKI Trolley system supports all of these attributes. Its choice of chassis types and hundreds of different components ensure users can create over four million different configurations, effectively unlimited choice, to prepare a unit matched to their unique operational requirements.