Tips & Techniques

The word "safe" certainly implies a feeling of comfort or avoidance of harm. There comes however, a certain amount of individual responsibility to insure that what we do, what we use, and how we use it provide the elements for safety. An example might be a safety belt in a car, which is designed to protect you. If we do not use it, or use it incorrectly, it would be unsafe. To insure the safety of our employees, our customers, and yourselves, please consider the following.

Equipment Safety & Accident Prevention

1. Report all damaged, non-working or unsafe equipment immediately to your manager.

2. All electrical equipment should have three-pronged, grounded plugs. Do not tamper with these plugs to make them fit ungrounded two-prong receptacles.

3. Do not use electrical equipment with broken or frayed wiring.

4. Do not put hands, fingers, or feet into or under any electrically operated or gasoline driven equipment unless unplugged or turned off. Do not attempt to service or repair any power equipment while operating.

5. Unattended machinery must be disconnected by removing the plug from wall socket by gripping base of plug.

Workplace Safety and Accident Prevention

1. Do not attempt to lift heavy items or carry them up and down steps without assistance or instruction from your manager or supervisor.

2. Do not use any cleaning chemical or equipment unless you fully understand its purpose and have been instructed on its use.

3. Be careful to prevent clients, franchisees, or others from entering wet floor areas; "CAUTION WET FLOOR" signs must be posted during all floor cleaning operations.

4. All franchisees should use all safety measures possible while doing their work.

5. Make sure you understand the procedure for getting medical help make sure you are aware of all OSHA requirements.

6. If you are injured at work, notify your manager or supervisor immediately before leaving the work site.

7. If an employee of a client or other person is injured involving our work, notify your manger or supervisor and our office immediately before leaving the work site.

8. Shoes worn while working should be made of a sturdy, durable material that completely covers the foot.

9. Do not attempt to prop open doors by placing doorstops or other items between the door and the door jambs. Use proper doorstops under doors only.

Use of Cleaning Chemicals

Cleaning materials should be mixed and used exactly as directed by your manager or supervisor. These materials are chemicals and, when used improperly, can be damaging to both you and your client's property. Be careful to only use chemicals in well-ventilated areas.

1. Do not experiment with cleaning materials.

2. Do not mix two chemicals together.

3. Acid materials, such as toilet bowl cleaner should be used only within toilets and urinals and not for any other purpose. It should not be applied to chrome fittings or damage will occur.

4. Abrasive materials such as cleaning powder or abrasive pads should be used only as directed, for they can damage painted and other surfaces.

5. Do not use any material that you are unfamiliar with.

6. Do not use any material for any purpose other than what you have been instructed by your manager or supervisor.

7. Do not use bleach on any surface.

8. Always wear rubber gloves and eye protection when handling and using acids and strong chemicals.

9. Obtain Material Safety Data Sheets from the supplier of your chemicals.

Fire Hazard

You must follow clients building rules for smoking. When emptying ashtrays, it is our responsibility to make sure that all cigarette butts and embers are extinguished. Wastepaper, rags, or other flammable material must not be stored by furnaces, hot water tanks, electrical panels or other sources of spark or fire. Rags should not be left on hot water tanks or furnaces to dry out. All flammable material should be stored in a metal container with a lid.

Care of Equipment & Supplies

1. Janitor closets and equipment must be kept clean and neat at all times.

2. Wet mops should be rinsed and hung neatly. Mop buckets must be emptied and rinsed daily. Wet mops or water must not be left overnight in buckets. Dust mops should be brushed out, sprayed and hung nightly.

3. All machinery such as vacuums, buffers, etc., should be cleaned after use and vacuum bags emptied.

4. Trash must be disposed of daily and not left overnight except where clients request specific procedures for disposal of trash.

5. Franchisees will be advised by their local CleanNet office for procedure for ordering supplies for their job site.