Cleaning Hygiene Today Cleaning Hygiene Magazine
Cleaning in law enforcement agencies is a vital part of operations. Prison cells and police custody units have the potential to become breeding grounds for germs and disease if not properly maintained and, as well as physical health, unhygienic conditions can also create mental health distress for both detained individuals and staff
Everyone has the right to a clean and healthy environment, regardless of their legal status or crime, and law enforcement rooms that hold people require thorough and regular attention.
Specialist Remediation Solutions (SRS), of Desborough, has recently been employed by His Majesty’s Prison Service as part of the renovation of cell blocks to take away textured ceilings, remove any asbestos, and ensure a thorough biohazard clean to create a safe space for all.
The experts are specially trained to handle a multitude of risks and hazards that can occur in such a setting and, because of this, have also previously been drafted into clean police station custody areas.
A custody sergeant from one busy police station said: “Before we engaged Specialist Remediation Solutions, the task of cleaning cells was daunting. We were often unsure how to deal with certain types of waste and were concerned about potential disease transmission.
“Since Specialist Remediation Solutions started, we’ve seen an improvement in cleanliness and a significant reduction in health-related issues among detainees.”
Biohazards faced in these settings may include bodily fluids, such as vomit, blood or urine, excrement, drug paraphernalia and mould, all of which pose a risk to health and safety.
It takes a certain disposition to be able to take on the immense challenge of professionally cleaning biohazard waste, an iron will and a strong stomach – particularly in small, enclosed spaces with a lack of ventilation, such as prison cells.
The SRS team ensure that all cleaning and hazardous waste removal meets statutory health and safety standards, using relevant waste disposal and personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as a discreet professionalism that cannot be taught.
The cleaning process used has to be methodical in order for it to be effective, beginning with an initial assessment of the space, identifying any problems areas and potential risks, and ending with a final sweep to check for anything missed.
SRS Managing Director Stephen Booth said: “Our unparalleled attention to detail is what ensures that we not only clean every inch of the space in question but also ensure all problems and risks in that space are addressed and resolved.
“Our industrial strength equipment and cleaning solutions complement our specific plan perfectly, ensuring that everything is covered, from floor to ceiling. We also conduct a post-cleaning review, checking the cell one final time to ensure a rigorous and complete service.”
It has been proven through His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service studies that grime adds to stress loads for both those detained and for staff, with findings stating, “clean spaces lift moods noticeably” and “prompt cleaning prevents escalations”.
Bringing a professional company in to remove hazardous materials and waste is an efficient and effective way to avoid future problems.
SRS’s Operations Director Elena Paunete and Managing Director Stephen Booth
