Floor Cleaning Procedures For Slip,Trip And Fall Prevention All areas should be cleaned thorough-ly with no shortcuts All equipment should be checked to ensure it is clean and in good condition All equipment should be checked to make sure that the right equipment is used for the floor surface. personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure they avoid contact with contaminat-ed materials. For floor scrubbing: Operate floor machine from side to side while applying solution Overlap on each pass to ensure that the entire floor has been covered Avoid bumping the baseboards and other fixed objects Use a hand pad and holder to scrub corners and other areas not accessi-ble to the floor machine. Pick up dirty solution: Use a wet vacuum or remove the dirty solution with the first mop Dip the clean mop into the clear water and rinse — using the double bucket procedure Wring out the wet mop frequently Cover the entire area to be cleaned Wipe off baseboards before they dry. After the floor has dried, cleaning person-nel should remove the wet floor signs and return furniture and other items cleared from the area to their proper positions. Cleaning Procedures Proper cleaning procedures should be fol-lowed for dust mopping, scrubbing, strip-ping and applying floor finishes. There are common elements to the cleaning process. Before each step in cleaning, the equip-ment should be clean, in working order and appropriate for the floor surface. The floor area that is to be cleaned should be blocked off. Once the cleaning process is completed, employees need to clean up equipment immediately after the procedure. The equipment should be thoroughly washed, allowed to dry and stored in the proper location. Color-coded mops and buckets should be provided for different areas to be cleaned. This will prevent the spread of foreign substances from one area to another and reduce the possibility that these sub-stances will be spread in the process of cleaning a spill. Products Products should be tested on a small sec-tion of the floor, prior to use, to ensure the product is suitable for the floor surface. Many suppliers and manufactures of floor cleaning products provide technical support to select the appropriate products for spe-cific types of floors and needs. Cleaning products should be tested prior to purchase to ensure quality — this could also save you from buying expensive prod-ucts that do not work. Follow all manufacturersʼ instructions on safety and application. Products from different vendors should not be mixed together, as the products might not be compatible and could cause the products to not work as expected. Provide training for using, mixing and applying products as well as maintaining all cleaning equipment. Many product vendors provide assis-tance with selection and technical training. Applying Floor Finish Applying first coat of seal: Pour floor finish into lined mop bucket and place a clean, non-rusty wringer into the bucket Immerse clean mop into the finish Wring out mop to eliminate dripping Apply a thin coat of finish to the floor Apply floor finish by running floor fin-ish applicator mop parallel to and next to the baseboard Do not apply in vertical portions of baseboards and walls Work in a “U” shape around base-boards and work from outward inward Use additional finish, as needed, per manufacturer instructions and cover the entire floor Try to avoid splashing the floor finish Before applying another coat, allow finish to dry completely. Applying second coat of seal: Repeat the above instructions You may wish to avoid building up edges by keeping a few inches away from the baseboards Apply a thin coat of finish The second application should be made using a “figure 8” pattern, which reduces back fatigue Allow second coat to dry completely. Basic Cleaning Procedures To effectively dust mop floors, cleaners should: Remove all debris Hold mop at a 45-degree angle and push mop straight ahead; do not push backwards and avoid lifting up mop Use a small dust mop for obstructed areas, such as an office or classroom When mopping, start at entrance and work from the sides to the center of room If furniture is easily moved, move and mop where furniture is located Use dustpan and broom to sweep up trash Once the floor is clean, brush out the dust mop with a stiff bristle brush or place the dust mop head in a plastic liner and shake it several times Treat dust mop at end of cleaning pro-cedures Replace mop head when soiled Hang dust mop with yarn facing away from walls. Equipment All facilities should have the proper clean-ing materials readily available for their operations. Rather than using the same mop throughout the entire premises, equipment should be separated for different areas of the facility. Equipment may need to be color-coded or marked to ensure employees use the proper equipment for designated areas. If an area needs to be blocked off for cleaning, employees should know how to set up signage and equipment properly. When using signage, it is important to ensure signs are highly visible and do not pose a slip, trip or fall hazard. Signage should also be used in conjunc-tion with cleaning up spills and debris, not just as a deterrent. All equipment should be cleaned prior to use, regularly inspected and maintained. Provide employees with the necessary 30 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • November 2009
CMM – Archives Nov 2009: 30
