When it comes to running a professional business or commercial facility, health and safety should be at the top of your priority list. Upholding high cleanliness standards is not only essential for professionalism and the integrity of your business or space but is also crucial by law.
If your business is or facility is open to the public or has daily visits from customers, you must ensure is it clean, safe and welcoming. Therefore, you should consider getting commercial cleaning equipment that is designed to help you maintain high standards.
Different workplace environments, indoor and outdoor, big and small, can benefit from industrial cleaners, but what exactly are they? And how do you know which type is right for you? Keep reading to find out all the information you need to know before you make your purchase.
WHS: workplace obligations, responsibilities and benefits
All businesses and workplaces are, by law, required to abide by Workplace Health and Safety (WHS), regulations. These regulations concern the health, safety and welfare of everyone involved, which includes your employees, visitors, contractors, suppliers, customers and volunteers and the general public.
The legal responsibilities that your business are listed below (taken from www.business.gov.au):
- provide safe work premises
- assess risks and implement appropriate measures for controlling them
- ensure safe use and handling of goods and substances
- provide and maintain safe machinery and materials
- assess workplace layout and provide safe systems of work
- provide a suitable working environment and facilities
- have insurance and workers’ compensation insurance for your employees.
If your business does not comply with these health and safety regulations, you risk the welfare of many people. Tou increases the likelihood of workplace injuries and accidents which could land you in hot water; you decrease employee productivity and respect; you decrease staff and customer retention rates, and you increase worker compensation. Not to mention, by not complying you also break the law.
All of these requirements can be fulfilled with the right cleaning equipment, i.e. a machine-operated industrial cleaner.
What are industrial cleaners and who can benefit from them?
Industrial cleaners are large machinery that can effectively and thoroughly clean and sweep floors, both indoor and outdoor. They can be pushed or ridden-on, are high-powered, have great maneuverability and are easy and simple to use. They complete a cleaning job more thoroughly than any manual cleaner could. Industrial floor scrubbers are also available in different sizes to suit the job at hand and can be either petrol, LPG, battery or diesel-powered.
They are perfect for a wide range of large commercial and public spaces and facilities, such as:
- Retail Spaces
- Restaurants
- Shopping Malls
- Hospitals
- Libraries
- Airports
- Schools
- Runways
- Warehouses
- Construction Sites
- Hotels
- Factories
- Parks
- Playgrounds
- Mining Sites
- Car Parks
- TV studios
- Film Sets
Industrial floor cleaners are especially essential if your facility is largely based outside, or if a lot of your assets are outside, as outdoor areas are more difficult to keep clean and tidy.
Which type of industrial floor cleaner is right for you and your facility?
The type of industrial floor cleaner that will best suit your facility depends on its size as well as its needs. You can buy a Ride on Sweeper cleaner, or a Ride on Scrubber cleaner. Or, you may choose a Walk-Behind Sweeper or a Walk-Behind Scrubber.
Ask yourself these below questions to find out best fit for you:
- What is your business or facility?
If your business or facility is listed above (i.e. it is a large space open to the public or invites a lot of guests/activity) it is likely that it will get busy, and with that can easily become messy or unclean. Therefore, you can be sure that you would benefit from industrial cleaning machinery.
If, however, your business facility is small or private (i.e. a small café or an office space), you can probably maintain the cleanliness of the space with small-scale cleaning products – not with large machinery.
- What do you need from a cleaner?
To find out what type of industrial cleaner is best for your facility, ask yourself what it needs. If space is a school or hospital, it will require a deep scrub and polish because cleanliness is more crucial than ever. Thus you should probably invest in a Ride on Scrubber or Walk-Behind Scrubber.
Or, if your space is outdoors and requires a sweep more than a deep clean (i.e. an airport runway where it is critical that there is no litter or debris on the ground during take-off), an industrial sweeper may be right for you.
- How big is your space?
The size of your space and facility will determine whether you opt for a Ride-On Sweeper/Scrubber or a Walk-Behind variety. Both types are high-performing, but if you have a very large space with a lot of ground to cover, it will be more time-efficient and less labour intensive to get a machine that you can drive, rather one that you push.
- Is your space predominantly indoor or outdoor?
Industrial sweepers generally work best for large outdoor spaces, as they can tackle rough terrains and clear all manner of litter and debris.
For shopping centre floors, for example, you may require an industrial scrubber to ensure the shop floor shines. This way, you will ensure maximum cleanliness as well as customer satisfaction.
Different machines are designed for different purposes, so carefully consider the amount of power and maneuverability you require before you opt for one.
Conclusion
Maintaining a clean and safe environment is not only lawful but is essential for the satisfaction and wellbeing of your customers, the public, employees, suppliers, guests, etc.
If you think that your facility requires a bigger helping hand in order to achieve that deep clean that abides by government regulations, invest in a machine-operated industrial cleaner today.