Janitor Closets: Safe, Clean, Organized
What do you think is the most overlooked and often ignored area of your customers building? Is it stairwells, entrances, elevators? Here's a hint; it's the area that is most visited by your cleaning technicians. It's the janitor's closet! I cannot begin to tell you how many times during a routine inspection, that I have found the “closet” to be an absolute mess.
Sure, we discuss the janitors' closet during orientation but that discussion usually got pushed to the rear and replaced with topics like productivity, efficiency, reliability, and safety.
Cleanliness and safety in the workplace starts with well-organized janitors closets
Our customers rely on us to provide them with an efficient and effective janitorial cleaning staff to keep things running smoothly. But this can only be accomplished if the supplies and equipment for the cleaners are well-organized and kept properly stored. And there is no better place to start then the “closet.”
Think about your desk at the office. Can you imagine how difficult it would be for you to get anything done with stacks of paper and clutter scattered about? The same thing goes for the janitor's closet. It is our cleaning staffs working office and if it is cluttered and disorganized, it can definitely affect their quality of work.
A chaotic closet not only creates an atmosphere of inefficiency, it is also a menace waiting to happen and is often the unseen source of chemical hazards and accidents. The first step to preventing a mishap is ensuring the cleaning technicians have ample space for all the equipment, tools, and cleaning products and to maneuver around comfortably. Sometimes this space is limited, so make sure they have only what they need, nothing extra. If there is stuff in there that has not been used in over a year, take it to another location or throw it out.
Must haves for the janitors closet
Safety data sheets (SDS) should be posted in your janitor closets for all chemicals used in the workplace. All cleaning technicians should be familiar with the SDS and know where to find them in the event of a mishap. Make sure employees are aware of proper disposal procedures for any hazardous materials. This should be included as part of their safety training and is the responsibility of the employer to make sure they have all the information they need to prevent accidents.
A well-equipped janitor closets should have:
All appropriate SDS sheets
- Proper labels on ALL bottles
- Emergency phone numbers
- First aid supplies
- Extra supplies (remember, too much creates chaos)
- Goggles, gloves, aprons, or any other personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary
- A sink and tap with proper drainage
- Adequate space for proper storage of all equipment
- Good lighting
An ignored janitor closet indicates an unsafe and unhealthy workplace
A working sink and proper drainage ensure buckets of cleaner are not left out. Ample shelf space and a proper workbench will prevent supply bottles containing dangerous materials from being left out. If there is a place for everything, it's more likely to be put away. A clean, organized storage makes it easier to find what you need in the event of an emergency.
Health and Safety Inspectors frequently check janitor closets as part of their regular examination of facilities. They look for strict adherence of health and safety regulations, such as SDS sheets, proper storage of dangerous chemicals, enough ventilation, a clutter-free work area and enough space for all the equipment the janitorial staff requires. These are all simple precautions that can save your company a lot of money in fines in addition to preventing workplace injuries.
Cleaning and maintaining the closet should be part of every cleaning technicians training process and should be included as part of the quality assurance guidelines. They have procedures to clean different areas of the customers building and the janitors closet should be no exception. The closet should also be included as part of the regular quality control inspection regiment or inspected at least monthly.
It might be the smallest, overlooked room in the building, but a well-organized janitor's closet can make all the difference when it comes to efficiency, safety and cleanliness.
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Cleaning employees have one of the highest accidents rates of any industry. Because cleaning employees are working with numerous chemicals, heavy equipment and are constantly lifting and bending, there are many ways they can be injured while on the job. Safety should be everyone's concern and The Janitorial Store has the resources and training programs you need to keep your cleaning business running smoothly and safely. |
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