Looking for office cleaning service? You may have a job that requires you to clean. If so, then your work is probably dirty and involves potential health risks. The things you use to clean may be unclean themselves, and your clothing might not protect you from anything lurking on surfaces or hidden in air currents.
In this case, the question “How do I create a clean and healthy working environment for cleaners?” is valid.
There are several steps you can take to ensure your job, at the very least, doesn’t make you sick or worse.
It’s essential to carefully consider this subject if you have allergies or asthma because having an allergic reaction could put you in the emergency room. Most likely, if you work as a cleaner, you spend time in enclosed spaces. Your workspace may emit mold or other hazardous particles. Some of these reactions might be easy to spot early on, but some symptoms are more subtle and can take years to develop.
Cleaning products free from harmful ingredients.
Ensure your cleaning products are free from harmful ingredients before using them on surfaces you will later touch with bare hands. If you’re not sure what’s in your cleaning products, ask the person who supplies them for specific information. Find out how long items can be left wet after being cleaned because some cleaners contain ingredients that may dry to irritating particulates.
Take note of slippery floors.
On hot days, watch out for slippery floors that might develop while you’re cleaning. On cold days, be aware of surfaces being so slick that you may slip and fall. Ensure adequate lighting in your workspace so you can see well enough to avoid bumps or falls. Also, be sure to take care when cleaning your office carpet.
Remove loose papers or anything else lying on the floor
Remove open documents or anything else lying on the floor if there is a chance anyone will step on it. This might be difficult in closed spaces like under desks, but minimally it will prevent anyone from tripping over something. Sweep up anything small enough to be kicked around or vacuum if necessary.
Windows should be shut to avoid contaminants from outside.
If the area you’re cleaning has any windows, shut them, so they don’t get opened by accident, allowing dust and contaminants inside. This is especially important in air-conditioned rooms where opening a window could also create an air current that may scatter dirt around your workplace. If you can’t shut the windows, consider turning on an exhaust fan.
Keep any disposable products or materials away from your face while you work.
Cleaners pose the most significant risk for breathing in contaminants, so try to keep any disposable products or materials away from your face while you work. Also, if you wear glasses to see better while cleaning, try not to put them on your face until after you’re done because they could quickly become contaminated. If the air outside seems dusty or smoggy, wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose so that breathing will pose less of a threat for getting contaminants in your respiratory system.
Wear protective gears
Make sure to wear protective gear like clothing, gloves, and goggles if you’re cleaning anything that has the potential of causing injuries or contamination. If there is a spill on the floor, immediately clean it up and dispose of anything in it using disposable items or by placing items into a bag that can be sealed and then taken out to be thrown away.
Take note of cleaning products with side effects.
If you’re aware of some cleaning products that cause reactions like sneezing, wheezing or watery eyes, consider using those that don’t as long as they still get the job done. There are all kinds of general-purpose cleaners on the market for things like surfaces and disinfectant soaps for hand washing that should be free of harmful ingredients.
Install an adequate ventilation system
If your workplace doesn’t have an adequate ventilation system, try opening any windows to get some fresh air circulating in the room you’re working in. If possible, change out the filters for this system, so they don’t become contaminated or clogged with dust and particles. Sometimes it may be better to air out the room by leaving the door open instead of turning on an exhaust fan if the motor is loud enough to create too much noise.
Wear face masks as you do clean
It can’t hurt to wear a mask whenever you’re in your workspace, but if you’re cleaning anything potentially hazardous like blood or body fluids, consider wearing additional protective equipment like gloves and aprons. Be sure that any protective materials are disposed of properly after you’re done using them.
If you clean more than one room, try to keep your cleaning supplies in one area that makes it easier for moving from place to place without having to go back and get something you left behind.
