[mark_roberts]

I have to recommend a cleaning plan for a church.

I need window/glass cleaner
Tile floor cleaner (with a mop)
Wood floor cleaner (with a mop)
Wood polish
Toilet/sink surface cleaner
Toilet bowl cleaner (I'm thinking the type in the cistren)

All products need to be SAFE so I'm trying to rule out bleach if possible.  Products must be better than Tesco and cheaper otherwise theyll continue to buy branded products.

Whats the Health and Safety for the above as its the members cleaning the building not me.

What towels do you use for kitchen, toilets and windows as they need to be all different.

thanks
Mark

PS. my local supplier sells clover products.  Are they and good?

[Tim Downer]

Mark

If you buy your products from you local cleaning supplier, they will supply you with all the relevant COSHH sheets. These sheets should also have on them the Product description and Directions for use according to the manufacturers instructions which would be incorporated into a cleaning plan for your H&S.

I have found that the cleaning supplies for what you require, buying them at your cleaning supplier should be about the same as Tesco if not cheaper, plus you will get the benefit of free advice on your selection of materials - well worth the trip!

Regards

Tim

[martin19842]

hi there,

Mark

you dont want to be using bleach on any contract, it is considered to be a hazardous chemical in the workplace, and when added either intentionally or by accident to many other cleaning products will produce toxic gas.

You may also find that your public liability insurance is affected if you are using bleach.

and in essence all bleach does is at it says on the label, bleaches stains to clear, therefore giving the impression of being clean.

products purchased from superstores are very weak compared to strength of cleaning products available to us in the trade from our trade suppliers.  for example you wouldn't buy an general acid cleaner (hydrocloric) from tesco.

regarding H and S irrespective of who is carrying out a task, the members will be responsible for the health and safety of themselves and other visitors to the building.  They should comply with all relevant legislation.  Therefore if at the moment they are cleaning, using superstore products, I would be intrested to see their COSHH data sheets, and COSHH assessments, (they most certainly wont have any)

i hope that this helps

regards

martin

[Fox]

Just a note to all

If you do buy products from Tescos or Wilkinsons for example they will supply COSHH data sheets if asked for.

[Jake]

Mark

Regarding Clover products, we use them a lot and find they are very good. If you purchase them from a supplier such as Canon Hygiene, you can ask them for a cd rom that contains all the relevent Coshh info to print off as and when needed.

                             Westclean

[cleanmac]

Ecogent from Chemspec,besides being a very good multi -surface maintenance cleaner, including glass (mixed 1 in 40),is also one of the safest and ecological  products available.

David.

[Jan K]

I use Virosol (Clover product) and it is damn good...........I use it on the grey lino floor of a very busy hairdressers and you can see the dirt lifting off as you apply the stuff!! I swear by it. I also use to use it when I worked for a Health and Leisure club.....we used it on the floors of the changing rooms, swimming pool side, showers, wooden floor in bar!

[Len Gribble]

Martin

Regarding (H and S irrespective of who is carrying out a task, the members will be responsible for the health and safety of themselves and other visitors to the building) are you sure? Would have thought the organisers Mark being one, of the of the voluntary cleaning were responsible for the HS, the buck must stop some were


Mark

If you are to recommend a cleaning plan it dose not stop there with cleaning agents, granted I don’t know your full remit, but you are a part of it!

Bit surprised no one picked up on this but I’m confused when you say towels that what people dry the hands on! Are you referring too colour coding; the word bleach scares the c.r.a.p out of me! But you could use it when changing location say from bog to kitchen!

I would also look at swan neck/pump system if buying in 5lts

Len

[martin19842]

hi there

len,
the impression i had was that the members were doing the cleaning as opposed to a cleaning company therefore it would be the members responsibility, if it were a cleaning company then responsibility would lie in both camps ,

regards

martin

[Len Gribble]

Martin

I understand where you’re coming from, even if they give there time for free, I would still think it would be classified as commercial, so all the paraphernalia we have to do would come into play!

My wife who also dose voluntary work at the local deaf centre has to follow the HS rules

Len

[martin19842]

hi there,

thats right Len, H and S gone mad, its like banning home made cakes from the home made cake stall at the school fete, as someone may getfood poisoning. or banning hanging baskets in the high street cause that might fall off.

Whatever next

regards

martin

[Len Gribble]

Martin

HS policies were brought in for safety with in the working environment paid or not, have to agree gone mad in some areas, hope it dose not cover any form of motor sport.

Len

[cleanmac]

Len

You are correct regarding the H&S issue,that's why I recommend Ecogent.

David

[Tim Downer]

Hi there,

With reference to who is responsible, its interesting what the COSHH sheets says regarding this issue:
"The responsibility to ensure safe working conditions within the workplace remains with the user....."

So you are both correct, that (1) it is the cleaners responsibility regarding H&S issues, but surely they can only act on (2) the information and monitoring of the cleaning company.....

In Marks case, it sounds like he his just setting up the proceedures, which would include the relevant specs and H&S, but thereafter it would be the responsibility of the cleaners - paid or done on a voluntary basis.

I have a similar case as Mark. I have set up proceedures etc in a place of worship so that any idiot can follow directions and H&S!

All the different aspects of cleaning, i.e the toilets, kitchen, vacuuming, sinks etc etc have been written down on individual cards and laminated, with all the steps to accomplish these particular tasks written out with bullet points.
So if you were cleaning out the toilets, you would pick up the relevant laminated card, take the materials needed, and follow the instructions. If you were cleaning the sinks in the toilets, along with tiles etc, the same thing....pick up the card........

All the cleaning materials have been set out in one cupboard, cloths etc etc.
The cleaning product I use is from Selden, called E14 - Selective, it is a cleaner and sanitizer.
I have colour coded all the spray bottles as per the colours used as standard practice for toilets, kitchens etc
The product has been diluted into the trigger sprays, and it is also used to clean the floors - this product on the COSHH Sheet, states that it "is not classed as hazardous under chemicals (hazard information and packaging) regulations 1994".....so I am happy for all sorts of people to use it, plus using just the one chemical product, people do not get confused. Also, this product being a washroom cleaner, can be used to leave in the toilet bowl.

As for towels, I installed a couple of paper towel dispensers and supply the paper hand towels to them.

Hope this has given you an idea of what to implement in your situation.

All the best

Tim

[Len Gribble]

David


A lot of companies use that word ecogent is the one you mean


http://www.ecogent.ca/index1.htm

http://www.pitching-green.gov.uk/newsarticles.htm


Len

[cleanmac]

Yep Len,both links refer to the product I mentioned.Chemspec does the marketing in the UK.

Regards

David