Seven Tips For Basic Preventative Measures

I recently had an interview with Tim Wayne (bio below) regarding basic preventative measures. Here are a couple tips that we covered.

Mickey:  Tim, please give our readers your background and share your thoughts on “Basic Preventive Measures.”

Tim:  I have been in the cleaning industry for more years than I care to count.  It has been both a challenging and gratifying experience since I have always enjoyed systems operations.  My experience is varied in that I have worked for both non-profit and for profit companies that all face the same basic challenge:  increasing productivity while staying current with laws, technologies and training.  I currently work in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. 

1.Encourage use of hand sanitizers (alcohol based). We can provide individual sizes or stand mounted units that can be placed at entrances and high traffic areas. Some customers prefer hand wipes, again be sure they have a high peroxide or alcohol content. Discourage the use of wipes with bleach content. Bleach is not intended for contact with the skin.

2.When performing any tasks change gloves frequently during your shift. Changing gloves 8 to 10 times in an 8 hr shift is acceptable. The gloves will protect you but more important limit the chance of transferring germ/viruses to other locations.

3.Identify touch points in restroom and perform your first wipe down on these areas. Continue the normal procedure of separating your restroom rags and mops.

4.Accelerate the cleaning of public touch points, door handles, push bars, stair rails and high use doors such as restrooms, lounge areas, and high traffic interior office doors. When disposing of trash change liners on any trash cans with used hand towels or tissue regardless of how little trash is in place.

5.Review all potential high traffic touch points with your supervisor and put this accelerated procedure in place immediately. Supervisors should review the impact this added service will have on the budget and review with upper management.

6.The building entrances are our most vulnerable contact point. If security is in place any trays used for x-ray units are contaminated. We should place a hand sanitizer at the completion end of the x-ray process. The exterior door handles are the highest contamination point in the facility. A program of frequent wipe downs of these handles with an anti-viral is the first line of defense. Security staff at these entrances should be encouraged to use disposable gloves.

7.Encourage the use of frequent hand washing with soap and water by our staff as well as customers.

Thanks for some great points.  More in a future article.

Tim Wayne Bio:

Timothy Wayne is Director or Contracts at a major non-profit agency in Maryland that provides employment and support of people with significant disabilities.  Tim has been involved in the custodial and service industry for over forty years and has been in leadership/management roles at commercial companies such as ABM and large non-profit agencies including Pride Industries.  Tim is a manager, trainer, consultant and program developer.  At Pride Industries he develop a cleaning program (called Pride Clean) that included formulating color-coded chemicals, matching microfiber cloths and mops, student procedure manual and training manual.  This program focused on sustainability and compliance with LEED standards.  He documented impressive improvements in productivity as well as savings in water and other resources.  He is committed to furthering the cleaning industry and is considered a mentor by many who have the opportunity of working with him.

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.