Commercial cleaning

Commercial cleaning is a broad term predominantly used by cleaning companies who earn an income by being contracted by individuals, businesses or corporations to carry out cleaning jobs on a variety of premises. Cleaning companies can be found in virtually every town and city in the world, with a higher concentration in affluent regions. Typically these companies market their services via a professional sales force, advertising, word of mouth, or websites.

Premises cleaned

Premises that may use commercial cleaning include:

• Shops
• High-rises
• Function Centers
• Data Centers
• Restaurants
• Offices
• Showrooms
• Warehouses
• Factories
• Schools
• Medical facilities
• Government facilities
• Airports

Cleaning techniques and equipment

Commercial office cleaning companies use a wide variety of cleaning methods, chemicals and equipment to facilitate and expedite the cleaning process. The scope of work may include all internal, general and routine cleaning to include floors, tiles, partition walls, internal walls, suspended ceilings, lighting, furniture and cleaning,window cleaning, deep cleans of sanitary conveniences and washing facilities, kitchens and dining areas, consumables and feminine hygiene facilities as well as cleaning of telephones, IT and other periodic cleaning as required. External cleaning, litter picking and removal of graffiti may also be incorporated.^[1]

Consumables

Contracts often require the cleaning companies to provide consumables such as: paper towels, toilet rolls, liquid soap, bin liners, etc. Jl

Workers

The commercial cleaning industry is extremely competitive and employees tend to be at the lower end of the pay scale. This is predominantly due to the abundance of acceptably qualified able-bodied workers vying for low skilled jobs. Many commercial cleaning companies provide on-the-job training for all new employees due to the nonexistence of tertiary based courses for the cleaning industry and the risks associated with the use of some cleaning chemicals. Individuals employed in commercial cleaning typically hold the job title of janitor, custodian or day porter.^[2]

In Australia, the US, and Europe, commercial cleaning companies are encouraged to screen all employees for evidence of a criminal background. Many homeowners, businesses and corporations insist on these police checks before allowing outside contractors onto their premises.

Cleaning providers

The cleaning industry employs large numbers of people in all sectors of the economy from offices to factories, schools to hospitals, shops to aircraft. Health and safety law applies to all businesses, no matter how small. As an employer, or a self-employed person, you are responsible for health and safety in your business. You need to take the right precautions to reduce the risks of workplace dangers and provide a safe working environment.

Employers must appoint someone competent to help them meet your health and safety duties. A competent person is someone with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to manage health and safety.

Employers can appoint (one or a combination of):

• themselves;
• one or more of your workers;
• someone from outside your business.

If employers and business managers are not confident of their own abilities to manage all health and safety in-house, they may need some external help or advice.^[3]

The market has change tremendously throughout the years, and the introduction of new legislation, such as TUPE has added new complications for buyers looking to go out into the market to find a new supplier. The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) protects employees’ terms and conditions of employment when a business/contract is transferred from one owner/company to another.

One of the key changes being proposed is the removal of the requirement for transferors (exiting contractor) to provide Employee Liability Information to transferees (incoming contractor) at least 14 days before the transfer but allowing the parties to negotiate arrangements for transferring information themselves. This change means that it is even more important for buyers to ensure that any service provision contract contains terms and conditions which include a requirement to provide TUPE information within a time frame that suits their buying regime. Given that the proposed amendment to Regulation 13 of TUPE (dealing with the obligation to inform and consult) will only require the transferor to provide such information which assists the parties in complying with their duties under that regulation, it is important that any information necessary to effect a smooth tendering process is also made available when required.^[4]

References