A business in cleaning services uses chemicals which, when not used properly, can be hazardous. Thus, you have to provide your employees, particularly the new ones, with all the information they need regarding the chemicals used in this kind of job. Give them a list of material safety precautions to improve their knowledge of these substances. But more than the hand- outs that you give them, nothing can still be compared with applications of what is written in the notes through trainings.
The responsibility of educating your staffs and giving them the proper training are still yours. You have to arm them with all the know- how’s of their jobs. To do this, you must prepare plans on how to train your staffs.
Make a lesson plan and create job aids which contain all the information that your employees have to know, including important business information and the staff’s respective job assignments. A cleaning service uses different chemicals like window cleaners, disinfectants, carpet cleaners and others. List down the chemicals used when given cleaning assignments in groups. Discuss each of these chemical groups for the purposes of the new employees knowing about them. If they have clarifications about some chemicals, provide them with more information so they can understand the topic more.
Emphasize that it is important for employees, especially the new ones, to have with them a data sheet containing information about the materials, precautions for their health and safety, and how to read these details. Distribute copies of material safety precaution list to the new employees so they can familiarize themselves on the chemicals. This can also inform them on the things they should do when emergencies occur. Making your employees understand these things can inform them how to handle a certain chemical and what to wear when you use it.
When you teach your staff, check whether the chemicals have proper labels so they can understand each chemical that you’re discussing and so confusions can be avoided. It is also recommended that you give your employees a list of terms since there are too many names to remember. With well- educated and properly trained employees, the likelihood of injuries and accidents occurring can be lessened.
A normal day in this business doesn’t really involve untoward incidents. However, unexpected things may happen anytime so it’s better that employees know how to respond to these situations.
Cleaning works are normally done during night time or after regular working hours. Thus, in case of power disruptions, your staff won’t get to do their job. However, this does not mean that they should just abandon the place and consider the day a day- off. Most establishments and building actually have power generators and light which you can use when there is a power disruption. If the staff happen to be somewhere without generators though, they should go to the exit they find nearest to them. Instruct your team to call their supervisor the moment they find any phone. If they cannot find any phone there, tell them to wait for electricity to go back for another 30 minutes. If after 30 minutes and still hasn’t still come back, they can already leave the house and look for their supervisor immediately.
Other emergency cases which might occur during cleaning service include:
• Spills
No matter how careful your staffs are when handling the cleaning products, spill are very uncontrollable and unavoidable in this kind of business. As mentioned above, cleaning service involves a lot of work with different chemicals. Thus, it is important for your employees to know as much as possible about the products they’re using, and to know where to look for MSDS.
Cleaning products often have substances causing eye or skin irritations, and worse, burns. This is why the whole staff should wear protective accessories and clothing such as glove and goggles all the time. You can already clean small spills by wiping it with clean cloth then leaving it to dry. However, for spills which cannot easily be removed, what you should do is to fence the area using a tape or just surround it with chairs. This is for other people to not accidentally touch or step it. Since there are many various methods of cleaning various chemicals, make sure that your staffs know about checking the MSDS. Remind them also to contact their supervisor when they need much more information or when they are not sure about something.
• Falls
Some people who slip or fall just act as if nothing happened out of embarrassment. Even when this is the case, instruct the staff to ask the one who slipped or fell to just remain in his position until such time that they are sure he is 100% okay. When needed, immediately call for some help. After helping him, check what made him fall. Maybe it’s a carpet hole, a wet floor or a loose tile. But whatever it may be, report it immediately. Afterwards, write a report about what happened.
• Fires
Your staff should know where fire extinguishers are located as well as where the list of emergency numbers is. In case of small fires occur, if your staff knows how to put out the fire using an extinguisher, then he can immediately put it out then contact the supervisor afterwards. If in case they were not able to put out the fire, they should immediately leave the place, contact his supervisor, the contact person of the company and the fire district.
• Health Problems
Sick employees must just stay home and not be allowed to work. This is to avoid spreading his illness to the other staffs and other people. In case emergencies or health problems occur unexpectedly while at work, your staff must be trained about the proper responses they should give to these situations.
• Choking
If none of the cleaning service staff or the people around the area know first aid applications, 911 must immediately be contacted for assistance.
• Heart attacks
In case a person suffers from a heart attack, place him in a secure position then call 911 immediately.
See: How to start a cleaning business
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