As a facility manager, you are responsible for keeping your building or even multiple facilities running smoothly around the clock. and other supplies, replacing and repairing equipment and even handling unforeseen emergencies like leaks, alarms and more.

Today, the risks of infectious diseases make it even more important to maintain safe and healthy environments. With all eyes on cleanliness, facility managers are under increasing pressure to tackle their toughest challenges with ease and within budget. Understanding best practices for dealing with these challenges can make the difference between a good and a great facilities manager.

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Eliminate 4 obstacles to potty training

Whether you oversee an in-house team of cleaning professionals, outsource to a construction services contractor, or rely on a combination of the two approaches, there are likely many cleaning challenges you have faced. as facility manager.

Potty goals can often seem at odds with your budget and schedule. However, being aware of these obstacles and tips to reduce their impact or likelihood of occurrence can keep your cleansing program and your results in better shape.

1. Consistency is lacking. Maybe you’ve noticed that your daytime cleaners handle cleanliness a bit better than your afternoon or night shift. Or maybe you noticed a lack of consistency from day to day between the same team members. Either way, the solution to this problem is to review your training procedures to ensure everyone understands what, how, where and when to clean.

Do employees rely on the right tools and equipment to clean? Do they know how to properly use these supplies and machines? Demonstrations and hands-on training can help you sort out any incorrect habits that may have formed or the shortcuts they take.

Investing time in training provides an immeasurable return on investment as it ensures cleaning is done the right way and gives employees a boost of confidence and proof that their employer is investing in their success and growth.

2. New variants of COVID-19 are emerging. It seems like every time we turn around, another variant of COVID-19 is discovered and we resign ourselves to the fact that we are living through a pandemic rather than going through it. These variants can lead to localized outbreaks that put your building and those who occupy it at risk.

To keep the doors open, it’s important to follow a healthy cleaning approach that carefully considers surfaces and high-touch areas. Clean and disinfect them as often as possible. Other lower priority surfaces can be treated with cleaner and disinfected as needed.

Also, review your outbreak response plan so you are prepared in case your staff members become ill or the building has to temporarily close. With the right strategy, training, chemicals and tools in place, you will be prepared to reduce the spread of all types of pathogens.

3. Equipment is getting old. From floor maintenance scrubbers to vacuum cleaners to custodial carts, there are many types of equipment that cleaning crews use on a regular basis. This equipment must be in good condition in order to clean efficiently and effectively. Keep a detailed log of the age of your equipment and service dates. Periodically inspect machinery and other tools to ensure they are in good condition.

If aging equipment isn’t performing well, review repairs and replacement to determine which option will provide the best results and return on investment. When equipment is damaged, underperforming, or difficult to use, staff become frustrated and may turn to other cleaning methods that impact consistency and even safety. Make sure staff have access to durable, easy-to-use, reliable machines and tools so they don’t have to work extra hard re-cleaning to compensate for aging equipment.

4. Your team is understaffed. Throughout the pandemic, many organizations have experienced recruiting and retention challenges and unfortunately the cleaning industry is used to dealing with high turnover rates. To attract great talent, fair wages and benefits are essential, but you must also go beyond these financial drivers. Employees want to feel aligned with their employer on topics such as safety, sustainability and career development.

Invest in safe chemicals that won’t irritate skin or eyes or release volatile organic compounds that negatively impact indoor air quality. Staying away from toxic products with questionable ingredients is necessary because professional cleaners use these solutions every day.

Select equipment that will improve workplace safety, such as floor scrubbers with high-quality squeegees to pick up excess liquid and reduce the risk of slips and falls. Where possible, aim to be more sustainable to show your commitment to protecting the planet.

Invest in regular training to not only ensure consistency, as mentioned earlier, but also to help employees achieve their career goals and grow in your organization. Promoting your commitment to safety, sustainability and your employees during the hiring process, onboarding and employee tenure can help you build and retain a great team.

[Related: How a Cultural Shift in Hotel Air Quality Will Keep People Safe]

Work smarter, not harder

It’s an understatement that facility managers and their teams work hard. The pandemic has led to a complete overhaul of many commercial cleaning programs, forcing employees to adapt and learn new ways to clean and sanitize. At the same time, organizations are struggling to recruit and retain cleaning professionals. Thus, it can often feel like there are not enough hours in the day to meet all the priorities and concerns of those using these facilities.

While hard work is commendable, in order to limit burnout, lack of cleanliness, and the risk of injury and illness, it’s important to find ways to work smarter. Working smarter can help cleaning crews avoid bigger issues that could derail their progress and well-being.

Being aware of key FM challenges and strategies to mitigate or overcome them has many benefits. It can help increase the confidence of people who work or visit your facility, improve productivity and consistency, reduce costs, strengthen your organization’s commitment to sustainability and more.

About the Author:

Kurt Kuempel is Vice President of US GSFone of the leading providers of cleaning services.

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