Slips and Falls

Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common in our industry. A cleaner could fall off a ladder when washing windows, or they could slip on a wet floor, which is the most common slip/fall accident. Also the terrain at Shearwater School grounds are naturally uneven and at times very muddy so please mind your step and always wear closed in shoes with good grip. 

Wet floors

• Avoid walking across wet floors unless wearing non-slip footwear.

• Be mindful of you step while using wet outdoor paths during rain events

• Place barricades when cleaning floors to protect others.

• Slips and falls still happen. Often when someone falls they are embarrassed and want to act like nothing has happened. Do not move until you are sure you are okay.  If necessary, call for help. 

• Regardless of whether or not an employee feels they have an injury, they must contact their supervisor immediately (BCG office, BCG Manager). A written incident report must be documented as soon as possible after an accident such as a slip or fall. 

Ladder safety 

• On all Beyond Cleaning Group sites , you are limited to a 3-step ladder. You must not use a higher ladder. 

• Only use a ladder if you are physically-capable of doing so.

• Always inspect the ladder before use. 

• Always set up the ladder on a flat, stable surface. 

• Always maintain three points of contact when climbing or descending the ladder. This means two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand.

• Only take small items up or down a ladder – never large or heavy items such as building materials. Only carry items that allow you to maintain three points of contact.

• Never lean or reach away from the ladder while using it.

• The combined weight of the person using the ladder and any items or tools should never exceed the working load limit on the ladder.

• A-frame ladders should only be used when locked in the fully-open position.

• Use extension tools instead of overreaching.

• Do not use metal ladders near water when you are using power cables.

Safety when toilet cleaning

• If properly worn and removed, disposable gloves can prevent most pathogens from infecting cleaners.

• According to some reports, micrococacceae, which can cause skin infections, can be found in varying degrees on nearly all public restroom toilet seats.

• Other bacteria found in varying degrees on toilet seats include:

  • Coryneform, found on over 80 percent of all toilets tested, which can cause diphtheria and hepatitis

  • Streptococcaceae, found on 39 percent of all toilet seats tested, which can result in sore throat and bronchial pneumonia

  • Pseudomonadaceae, found on 22 percent of toilet seats, which can cause urinary tract infections and blood poisoning

  • Enterobacteriaceae, found on 19 percent of toilet seats, which is associated with kidney infections, salmonella and shigellosis.

• Even small amounts of urine left on a toilet seat for up to 45 minutes can result in cross-contamination.

How To Remove Gloves Safely

• Grasp the outside edge of the left-hand glove at the highest point near the wrist.

• Peel the glove off the hand, essentially turning the glove inside out.

• Keeping the removed glove in the gloved right hand, discard the used glove.

• For the right-hand glove, slide the index finger under the glove at the highest point near the wrist. Peel the glove off from the inside and then discard.

• Wash hands using soap and water or hand sanitiser.

• However, droplets with airborne pathogens can be generated during the toilet flushing process, thereby creating infectious hazards. One flush of the toilet produces thousands of tiny aerosol droplets, which can contain bacteria and viruses and contaminate surfaces up to six feet away.

• Close the lid when flushing to help prevent the spread of germs.

Visibility - What to do when the lights go out

Not all areas at Shearwater Steiner School are properly lit. Some shifts are done outside of daylight hours and power outages onsite are common. Please use the headlamps provided to avoid accidents. 

Ensure you know where outdoor light switches are and turn them on before it gets dark. 

Most commercial cleaning is done in the evening hours, so when the electricity goes out staff may not be able to complete their jobs. But that does not mean they should immediately leave the site and go home. When the power goes out, but there is enough natural light to safely clean, please complete all cleaning not requiring electricity (toilets and restocking bathroom consumables, which must be done every day, emptying bins, wiping surfaces, spot cleaning glass).

Many buildings have emergency lighting, however, Shearwater does not. If the sun hasn't gone down completely, windows might provide enough light to help you get to the entrance, but if there is a chance you could find yourselves in total darkness employees are encouraged to carry a torch and their mobile phone with them at all times. While mobile reception is patchy at Shearwater, the torch can be helpful in a power outage. BCG has provided headlamps, and if you are cleaning when it is dark, you must wear one. 

When the lights go out, employees should contact BCG office or BCG manager before leaving. You can use a phone anywhere in the school. If the phones are also not working, then wait 30 minutes to see if electricity is restored. If not, then you can leave the school and go to a phone to contact BCG. Report your time to the office via SMS if the ipad is dead.