Accountability and customer support are important factors for customers in Australia, and they affect service-providing businesses in areas such as cleaning and facility management.
One way as a global solution to be more accountable is getting ISO certified. ISO stands for International Organisation for Standards and sets guidelines and standards for quality, management, and other business operations.
The ISO certification for cleaning companies looks into specific areas of particular importance in the cleaning service industry. Let's analyse the main emphasis on each certification in the case of cleaning businesses.
ISO 9001 (Quality Management) focus for cleaning businesses:
Though there are many challenges in this sector, one of the critical areas is Quality management. Quality management of the service level can be broken down into the following strategies:
Service consistency: ensuring each client's site gets an equal level of consideration, attention to details, and generally acceptable cleaning delivery during the job.
Customer satisfaction: fulfilling and surpassing client needs on cleaning requirements. It is the core purpose of this business, and if it is not achieved, obviously there is a lot of work that must be done to improve the quality of delivered work and enhance customer satisfaction.
Process standardisation: Forming standard procedures for different tasks like cleaning glasses of buildings properly. Developing and using forms and keeping records of daily tasks helps everyone follow the same instructions and deliver consistent results.
Staff training: focusing on staff competence and development is one of the key aspects of ISO certifications. By providing training and ensuring your workers are up to date with the current knowledge of your organisation and the industry, the chance of making mistakes and non-conformities is significantly reduced.
Equipment and supply management: The equipment needs to be maintained, checked for safety and also cleaned and updated regularly. Taking care of the inventory of cleaning supplies is another major part of this business operation. Vendor evaluation and supplier selection criteria must be in place and conducted regularly to ensure the right products and services are purchased all the time.
Quality control: Development and implementation of a quality inspection system commonly known as feedback systems become the primary basis for such a process. In particular, using formal and documented systems to check the quality of your work on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis is a major part of running your business according to the ISO 9001 requirements.
Continuous improvement: Changes in business operations, workers’ procedures, and machines, as well as the introduction of alternative solutions, are all part of the continuous improvement.
ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) focus for cleaning businesses:
This international standard is about the environment management system and mainly focuses on protecting the environment and reducing the impact on it, as well as following compliance and requirements by governments and authorities.
Here is the main emphasis of this standard for the cleaning companies:
Chemical management: Being cautious about how the chemicals are stored, handled, and thrown away. Also, keeping and maintaining Safety Data Sheets and other paperwork is necessary.
Water conservation: Reducing the use of water in the cleaning of a site by the application of water-saving methods, like using water-saving taps, etc., would be a great enhancement and environmentally friendly.
Waste reduction: By adopting a minimized packaging waste scheme and by the proper disposal of cleaning materials, we can reduce the waste produced by people in this sector
Green cleaning products: One of the possible solutions for environmental pollution may be using products that are environmentally friendly.
Energy efficiency: The amount of energy used in the process can be minimized by the management of the energy-consuming equipment
Sustainable practices: The initiative can be realised by putting in place programs that encourage the reuse and recycling of resources, hence reducing the
ISO 45001: Keeping Our Cleaning Teams Safe and Healthy
Cleaning companies should prioritise health and safety above everything else, and that is where ISO 45001 comes in. Take a look at the following measures:
Ergonomics: Cleaning is hard on our bodies, and it may be worse when workers have to perform repetitive movements and bend over. Doing everything you can to ensure that these tasks are more manageable, and looking for alternatives are highly recommended.
Equipment Safety: The machines are all work tools, and they have to be properly used and maintained. It is also a preventive measure to avoid anamnesis and keep the equipment maximally functional.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Committing to safe working practices is so important and must be taken seriously. Proper PPE and the knowledge of its significance are the main factors in our workplace safety.
Working at Heights: Detailed safety procedures for those works that involve getting up high, e.g., cleaning windows or dusting high shelves, should be in place and implemented.
Lone Worker Safety: It is required by many clients that cleaning be done after hours when the office or workplace is empty. This comes with the risk of working alone at night for the cleaners and can be risky at times, for instance, getting injured or falling from a height. These come with the responsibility to ensure the workers are safe and feel secure.
Biohazard Handling: When cleaning places like healthcare facilities, following strict procedures to handle potentially contaminated areas safely is a must. It’s all about keeping everyone safe and healthy.
By focusing on these important areas, you are not just meeting ISO standards—but also are making your workplaces better for everyone. This commitment to safety and quality not only helps our teams stay safe but boosts our reputation and competitiveness in the cleaning industry as well.
Don’t forget: Together, we can create a healthier, safer environment for both our workers and clients!
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