Workplace accidents affect the bottom line in a significant way, with many companies paying out millions of dollars every year in workers compensation and sick days. How do you reduce the risk of workplace injuries and accidents so that you protect your employees and your bottom line?
Consistent Cleaning Makes the Biggest Difference
We will talk about some specific things that businesses can do with their cleaning programs and with the cleaning companies they hire, but the most important thing they can do to reduce risk through cleanliness is to make their cleaning efforts consistent. If the workplace is only cleaned periodically and not regularly, then the risk of accidents increases exponentially.
This is because there will be safety hazards that are simply not found early on and that can become worse or that can be hidden over time. These need to be addressed quickly, and often the cleaners are your first and best line of defense against safety hazards.
Many of your workers will not look at the floors much as they work. They will be looking at what they are carrying and at the space ahead of them where they are walking to. The cleaners will pay attention to the floors, though, since that is one of their main areas that they clean. They will spot hazards more easily and be less likely to be injured by these hazards. Consistent cleaning ensures that your cleaning experts find and remove safety risks quickly and often.
Target Trouble Areas
You should also identify which areas of the workplace give you the most trouble. Where do the majority of accidents occur? Are these areas being focused on when it comes to cleaning or are they being treated like every other area?
Pay close attention to manufacturing areas, loading and unloading locations, and other areas where there is a high level of activity. These tend to be spaces that are the most hazardous because people are often not focused on what is happening around them as much as they are on the tasks. With so much traffic, the risk of a trip or fall increases. There is also increased risk of spillage and collisions, and you need to have their areas cleaned often to prevent accidents.
Which areas in your workplace tend to have the most accidents? These are areas that need greater attention, not just with signage but also with cleaning. Regular cleaning in trouble spots reduces hazards and makes your workplace more efficient.
Hire Skilled Cleaners
Are you careful about who you are hiring to do the cleaning work at your business? You can use commercial services to create Phoenix fresh spaces and expect them to do the work, but are you getting your money’s worth? Are they doing the cleaning the way you want it done? Are they making sure that everything looks as clean as it ought to be and are they putting in the effort that you would find satisfactory?
Finding skilled cleaners may not be as easy as you think. If you really want your floors to be spotless and free from hazards and you want the cleaning service to create a safe environment for you, then you need to carefully choose which company you hire for cleaning. Do some research into their reputation as well as their satisfaction guarantee. Are they committed to making their customers happy and standing behind the work they do? If not, then you should find another cleaning service to use.
Use Round-the-Clock Cleaning
We cannot stress how important it is to keep your work areas clean and clear of debris and spills. Even during hours of the day when there is little traffic, your workplace can still be hazardous. There could still be spills or dangers that need to be cleared away, and having round-the-clock cleaning can help you to keep a safe workspace.
Cleaners should focus on areas that tend to become dirty quickly, because even dirt and dust can create safety hazards. Areas where there tend to be a lot of spills are ones that need special attention, but your entire workplace can benefit from cleaners being present and working as long as you have employees active.
If you think of commercial cleaning as a service that you hire to come in for a few hours a day to clean, then you will not be minimizing hazards as much as possible. Now, you may want to hire staff to permanently fill cleaning positions, but you can do that with commercial cleaning services as well. You can have them on site for as long as your workday lasts.
Ensure Proper Procedure for Chemical Cleanup
When you have a chemical spill, there are procedures that need to be followed. Your cleaners should be aware of those procedures and should be following them consistently. If there is any question about whether your cleaners are following procedures, then it would be wise to supervise them or to discuss cleanup methods with them.
Chemical cleanup is something that should be left to the professionals. They have the training and the equipment to safely handle a wide variety of chemical spills. If you have to wait for a skilled cleaner to arrive, then simply close off the area rather than have someone who is inexperienced and poorly equipped try to clean up the spill.
Taking this approach to dangerous chemical spills will help you to avoid workplace accidents and hazards as well as potential lawsuits. Treat every chemical spill as potentially hazardous until you know for sure what it is, and ensure that your employees do the same.
If you can follow these tips for workplace safety and cleanup, you will have fewer injuries, your employees will take fewer sick days, and your business will be more profitable. Ensure your cleaning staff is well trained and fully equipped to handle a variety of hazards and you will have little to worry about when it comes to them encountering dangerous spills and chemical hazards.
