FEATURE EDUCATION SCHOOLING CLEANERS Cleaning in schools and colleges is very different from cleaning a normal office, there are a whole host of specific rules, regulations and advice to take into account. CHT casts its eye over some of the most important According to www.gov.uk in January 2012, there were 8.2 million pupils attending 24,372 schools in England (including nursery schools, statefunded primary schools, state-funded secondary schools, special schools, pupil referral units and independent schools.) That’s a lot of space that needs cleaning, with an incredibly high footfall. There are obviously a whole host of reasons why schools are a different proposition to adult workplaces. These range from the unique environments, to the unusual opening hours via children’s weaker immune systems. Seasonal changes can wreak havoc when hordes of children trample fallen leaves or snow through the corridors add in the inevitable littering and spillages and you begin to see the size of the challenge. DIFFERENT LOCATIONS Your average secondary school in the UK will boast classrooms, corridors, offices, canteens, dining halls, assembly and sport halls, changing rooms and sometimes gyms and swimming pools. Just for starters all of these places will need a different type of flooring, from carpets through to vinyl with the changing rooms and showers needing non slip floors. All of these will need to be cleaned differently. Each room will need different chemicals and equipment as well. HOURS Though people might just assume that there is plenty of time to clean a school either before 9 or after 5 this isn’t necessarily the case. Activities are common place both before and after school with breakfast clubs, sports and clubs. You might also get local community activities taking place. Because of this it is now normal to see schools being cleaned during “work hours” and this presents even more challenges. Quiet is of paramount importance, not just if coursework or exams are underway, but just for learning in general. Furthermore in a place full of young children cordless machines would be preferable to prevent trips and falls. 14 JUNE 2016 CLEANING HYGIENE TODAY Seasonal changes can wreak havoc when hordes of children trample fallen leaves or snow through the corridors”
Cleaning & Hygiene Today June 2016
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