Cleaning Hallways: Safety Signage and Display Areas

Periodically I like to get back to the basics of cleaning since we all can benefit from reminders along the way for the steps necessary to clean a facility effectively and safely.

Hallways are first impression areas that can be difficult to maintain unless there is a flexible schedule that takes into account traffic, weather and other concerns. I had a customer who complained repeatedly about wet floor signs being left out by the night crew. They felt it detracted from the overall appearance and was unnecessary unless the floor was actually wet at the time. Of course, they would have been the first to complain about a slip/fall incident if the floor signs had not been posted correctly. Adding to the problem, they would not allow us to store the signs near where they were most needed.

Our solution was to purchase and install the wall mounted tubes containing the pop out tent type units. We glued (no holes allowed) them in discreet areas that were not visible to the public or the customer. When the QC and/or onsite supervisor conducted their final walk through and security check for the night, they had on their list to pull and store the signs. This only took a few seconds and eliminated a complaint.

Other areas of concern are displays, which accumulate dust and fingerprints far more quickly than most enclosed areas. The day porter, if there is one, should have that as an Inspect/Do task each day. If there is no day porter then displays should be cleaned thoroughly each night just to play safe. Arranging magazines, cleaning public phones (a diminishing item due to technology), touching up security stations and disinfecting water fountains round out the list.

Remember that first impressions count and entrances are at the top of the list. Your comments and questions are important. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean...

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678-314-2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net.