It is vital in any working environment where hygienic sanitation is needed to keep surfaces clean that there is a comprehensive floorcare plan in place to keep walking areas sanitised. From hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and university laboratories to food and beverage (F&B) manufacturing plants and factories, floors can be a principal cause of cross-contamination if not cleaned sufficiently daily and sometimes more.
For health and safety reasons, it should be sufficient to say that floors in any institution where people gather should be kept clean and sanitised. Not only is it safer but it also contributes to staff productivity and efficiency.
In this article, we will offer a guide to floorcare for different types of flooring and how to keep them spotlessly clean. But first, what are two principal benefits of keeping floors sanitised?
2 Benefits of Introducing a Comprehensive Floorcare Plan
Here are two reasons why you should introduce a comprehensive floorcare plan:
- Health and Safety Compliance: These regulations are in place to care for occupational and general public safety and are regularly policed in some areas. Companies are often notified of inspections at short notice and non-compliance to these regulations could lead to warnings, fines, and even the loss of operational licences. A comprehensive floorcare plan could prevent this and removing dirt, dust, and grime daily will prevent slips and falls and improve product quality.
- Employee Productivity: Workers that need to be reassigned from their normal tasks to clean their environment before starting their daily shift is counterproductive. Employing a cleaning strategy that encompasses adequate floorcare and providing employees with a clean workspace as they arrive for work will increase productivity.
Different Types of Flooring Materials
There are different types of flooring made of many different materials. However, here are five of the most common types of floor surfaces and their pros and cons:
- Industrial or Polished Concrete: Concrete is a durable and affordable flooring material that is well-suited for heavy foot traffic. It is usually resistant to chemicals and moisture, and, if poured, cured, and maintained correctly, could last for decades. However, it may be slippery when wet and if not sufficiently sealed, could be porous and absorb leakages and spills.
- Epoxy: This is a durable and chemical-resistant flooring material that offers slip-resistant surfaces. Factories that use excess amounts of chemicals or have frequently wet floors are often advised to use epoxy flooring. However, it is expensive as installation and repairs are often costly.
- Rubber: Rubber is a soft and resilient material that is comfortable for workers to walk on and provides slip-free surfaces. It is resistant to many chemicals and moisture. Factories with production lines or that have lots of foot traffic benefit greatly from rubber surfaces. However, rubber is also expensive to install, is not resilient to acids, and can be difficult to clean.
- Vinyl or Lyonium: These flooring solutions are arguably the most cost-effective ways of covering a large flooring space. They are easy to clean, waterproof, and resistant to chemicals and moisture. However, they do damage easily and heavy machinery or sharp edges will harm the surface over time, and they are not as durable as other flooring solutions.
- Tiles and Grouting: These are durable and versatile flooring materials that may be used in most production facilities. If the grouting is appropriately sealed, they are resistant to chemicals and moisture, and they are easily cleaned, maintained, and repaired. However, they can be slippery when wet and lift over time if not properly installed.
5 Ways to Clean Floors and Maintain Effective Floorcare
It is important to clean floors regularly to remove dust, dirt, grease, grime, and other debris – sometimes more than once a day, depending on the production facility. This will assist to prevent occupational hazards and keep floors looking their best. Follow these 5 basic tips and hints for effective floorcare:
- Sweep the floor regularly with quality brooms to remove dirt and debris.
- Mop the floor using only the best mops and detergent to remove spills and stains.
- If the floor is heavily soiled, consider a mobile cleaning unit to penetrate stubborn spills.
- Rinse the floor thoroughly with fresh, clean water after sterilising.
- Be sure the floor is dry before workers enter to prevent slipping.
These are only a few ways that our professional floorcare specialists at Pescatech can assist you in identifying floor types and ways to clean them. If you need specialised advice, educated recommendations, globally recognised cleaning equipment and products, and superior service, contact us today.
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