FEATURE
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Industrial cleaning
is about more than ticking boxes
By Industroclean
E
Having clean and orderly workplaces in an industrial setting like a warehouse serves a
purpose beyond meeting health and safety standards.
– come under close scrutiny because of
their work environments have heightened
threats of injury.
Corder suggests a rigorous cleaning
schedule to prevent the build-up of grit,
grime, and dirt.
When applying this approach to a
warehouse floor, for example, always start
with clearing out loose debris with a floor
sweeper. Follow this up with a scrubber
dryer that will give a deep clean to remove
hard-to-lift dirt and grime. These machines
simultaneously dry the floor, thereby
reducing the possibility of slips on a wet floor.
When it comes to the maintenance
and cleaning of floors, safety is always
a big concern in every workplace
environment. Loading zones are usually a
heavy traffic area.
“Here, a clean environment keeps
everyone safe. The build-up of dust can
affect your machinery, which in turn, could
damage the floor. Scuffmarks are another
common issue on warehouse floors, but this
can be maintained with regular cleaning.
“It is important to remember that
flooring is a costly investment. Some
industries prefer epoxy coating over
concrete floors but if this is neglected, you
may have to redo it in five years.”
Corder recommends investing in
suitable sweeping, scrubbing and
vacuuming systems, if cleaning is done by
an in-house team.
“The most important step in the
cleaning process is first sweeping. This
should be done 80% of the time, while wet
cleaning, which includes scrubbing should
constitute 20% of cleaning time. It is also
important to curate the right chemicals, as
this not only affects whether the cleaning
will be effective but may also have an
effect on the wellbeing of your staff, if the
wrong product is used.”
According to Lee O’Reilly,
Industroclean’s Safety, Health, Environment
and Quality (SHEQ) manager, there are
many risks when proper maintenance
measures aren’t in place and advises
warehouse managers to conduct regular
safety audits of their workplaces.
“The risks are plenty,” she explains.
“You may not be able to obtain liability
insurance from an insurance company.
There is an increased risk of fire in a
cluttered environment. Make an effort to
separate items that are in use from those
that could be moved to a storage section
to prevent huge items lying around that
could end up posing a safety and fire risk.
Your employees are more vulnerable to
injury due to hazards such as falling objects
or slippery and dirty floors.”
Simple cleaning schedules will go a long
way to ensuring that warehouse spaces
are kept clean and free of grime and dust.
Naturally, an organised and clean work
environment promotes productivity and
prevents loss of tools and stock.
Corder says the simplest way to ensure
that cleaning is done regularly and to
the standard required is to consult with a
company that has the expertise to advise
on these tasks.
“We have many years of experience
within a multitude of different industries, so
we have a keen understanding of what
is required and where the pitfalls are. It
is advisable to focus on procurement of
the right equipment from a compliant
supplier” Corder concludes. CLA
mma Corder, MD of Industroclean,
says the downside to not meeting
basic cleanliness standards have
far-reaching consequences.
“There are two important factors to take
into account when it comes to warehouse
maintenance,” she says. “The first aspect is
investment. If you have laid out capital and
bought your own premises, you’d want to
protect your asset. By implementing proper
maintenance processes and keeping the
warehouse clean, you will protect your
capital layout.
“Companies are also protecting
themselves against other forms of loss
if their reputation is tainted because
negligence led to a workplace injury
or fatality. That could easily lead to
reputational harm, lost business and
productivity, as well as creditworthiness
with insurers. And without liability cover, a
company’s operations could literally come
to a grinding halt.”
Workplace safety is a key area of focus
for labour and industrial inspectors tasked
with monitoring compliance. Industrial firms
– from manufacturers to logistics providers
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March/April 2020
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