USE AND MAINTENANCE OF CLEANING TOOLS/EQUIPMENT

Definition of terms

1. Corrective or reactive activity - unscheduled, unplanned task, usually associated with greater
hazards and higher risk levels like repairing something to get it working again.

2. Floor buffer - an electrical appliance that is used to clean and maintain non-carpeted floors, such
as hardwood, marble, tile or linoleum. It is also known as a floor polisher or floor burnisher. If it is a
high speed floor buffer with a pad it rotates at over 1000 RPM (rotation per minute).

3. Housekeeping - the act of cleaning the rooms and furnishings of a home.

4. Maintenance - an act or process of preserving a tool or equipment. It is working on something to

keep it in a functioning and safe state and preserving it from failure.

5. Management - the process of designing and maintaining an environment in which individuals,

working together in groups, efficiently accomplish selected aims.

6. Preventive or proactive activity - usually a planned and scheduled process that is usually carried
out to keep something functional.

7. Tools - devices that can be used to achieve a task, but not consumed in the process.

8. Vacuum cleaner - a device that uses an air pump to create a partial vacuum to suck up dust and
dirt, usually from floors, and optionally from other surfaces as well.
TYPES AND USES OF CEANING TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS

Cleaning Tools/Equipment Meaning/Use

Broom is a cleaning implement for

sweeping made of bundle of straws or
twigs attached to a long handle.

Dustpan is a cleaning tool commonly

used to scoop the dirt and wastes on the
floor.

Vacuum cleaner is a device that uses an

air pump to create a partial vacuum to
suck up dust and dirt, usually from floors,
and optionally from other surfaces as
well. The dirt is collected by either a dust
bag or a cyclone for later disposal.

Water Hoses are hollow tubes designed

to carry fluids from one location to
another. Hoses are also sometimes
called pipes (the word pipe usually refers
to a rigid tube, whereas a hose is usually
a flexible one), or more generally tubing.
The shape of a hose is usually cylindrical
(having a circular cross section).

Bucket is a watertight, vertical cylinder or

truncated cone, with an open top and a
flat bottom, usually attached to a
semicircular carrying handle that is used
to hold water or any liquid solution used
in cleaning.

Cob webier is used for reaching and

sweeping of floor without as tool. It is also
used to in stairwells, ceiling corners and
other high areas.
 Sponge is characterized by readily
absorbing water and becoming soft when
wet while retaining toughness: used in
bathing, in wiping or cleaning surfaces,
etc.

Dishcloth is used in the kitchen to dry

dishes and other surfaces. Typically they
are made of cotton or other cloth, such as
microfiber, and measure 11" to 13"
inches square.

Cleaning Cloth is used to wipe the

cleaning tools and equipment.

A Floor buffer is an electrical appliance

that is used to clean and
maintain non-carpeted floors, such as
hardwood, marble, tile or
linoleum. It is also known as a floor
polisher.

Supplies/Materials Meaning/Uses

Cleaning detergent is a surfactant or a

mixture of surfactants with "cleaning
properties in diluted solutions that is also
used in cleaning purposes.

Liquid Detergent is a detergent in liquid

form used for cleaning tools and
equipment.

Scrubbing Foam is used to remove the

contaminants of any tool and equipment.
Paper towel is an absorbent textile made
from paper instead of cloth used in drying
hands, wiping windows, dusting and
cleaning up spills.

Water is a liquid used for cleaning most

of the tools and equipment. It is also
known as the universal solvent.

A waste container is a container for

temporarily storing refuse and waste.

Baking soda otherwise known as

bicarbonate of soda or sodium
bicarbonate is used to deodorize
refrigerators.

A glove is a garment that covers the

whole hand of a person that performs
household services.
SAFETY MEASURES IN DOING HOUSEHOLD TASKS

Housekeeping is not just cleanliness. It includes keeping work areas neat and
orderly; maintaining halls and floors free of slip and trip hazards; and removing of waste materials
(e.g., paper, cardboard) and other fire hazards from work areas.

SafeUse 

                  Risks can vary greatly. What important is, whoever has to use any tool or piece of
equipment as part of their job does so with care. To ensure safe use, employers must orient workers
and provide suitable information. They must also check that workers have the appropriate
qualifications to use intricate tools and equipment. In addition, as part of their health and safety
strategy employers should offer orientation and training. This isn’t necessary for basic items, but
when certain tools and equipment change, orientation and orientation improves skills and reminds
users of safety procedures.

Materialhandlingsafety

                  Handling material is a daily function in the workplace. All too often it is a task taken for
granted, with little knowledge of or attention to the consequences if done incorrectly.

                  The National Safety Council offers tips on the following:

Power Lifting

Lift It Right

 Make sure your footing is solid.

 Keep your back straight, with no curving or slouching.
 Center your body over your feet.
 Get a good grasp on the object and pull it close to you.
 Lift with your legs, not your back.
 Move your feet to turn. Don't twist your back.

Tough Lifting Jobs

Oversized Loads

 Don't try to carry a big load alone. Ask for help.

 Work as a team. Lift, walk, and lower the load together.
 Let one person give the directions and direct the lift.

High Loads

 Use a step stool or a sturdy ladder to reach loads that are above your shoulders.
 Get as close as you can to the load.
 Slide the load toward you.
 Do all the work with your arms and legs, not your back.
Low Loads

 Loads that are under racks and cabinets need extra care.
 Pull the load toward you, and then try to support it on your knee before you lift.
 Use your legs to power the lift.

Power Carrying Tips

Your Checklist

 Make sure your footing is firm.

 Ensure enough clearance at doorways to keep your hands and fingers safe.
 Check your route for hazards.
 Take extra care at platforms, loading docks, ramps, and stairs.
 Carry long loads on your shoulders, with front end high.
 Make sure the next person has a firm grip before you hand off the load.
 When you carry with others, everyone should carry the load on the same shoulder, walk
in step, and put the load down as a team.

Back Safety Tips

 Wear the right personal protective equipment for lifting and carrying.
 Lift with your legs, not your back; pivot, don't twist.
 Get help with tough lifting jobs.
 Spend a few minutes each day before work on power warm-ups.
 Exercise regularly to keep your back strong and healthy.
 Eat right, stay slender, and cut down on stress to avoid back injuries.

MAINTENANCE OF CLEANING EQUIPMENT

A vacuum cleaner is a device that uses an

air pump to create a partial vacuum to suck
up dust and dirt, usually from floors, and
optionally from other surfaces as well. The
dirt is collected by either a dust bag or a
cyclone for later disposal. Vacuum cleaners,
which are used in homes as well as in
industry, exist in a variety of sizes and
models— small battery-operated hand-held
devices, domestic central vacuum cleaners,
huge stationary industrial appliances that can
handle several hundred liters of dust before
being emptied, and self-propelled vacuum
trucks for recovery of large spills or removal
of contaminated soil.

A floor buffer is an electrical appliance that

is used to clean and maintain non-carpeted
floors, such as hardwood, marble, tile or
linoleum. It is also known as a floor polisher
or floor burnisher. If it is a high speed floor
 buffer with a pad it rotates at over 1000 RPM
(rotation per minute). It has a large, round
scrubbing pad spinning in a circle in one
direction which is powered by a small motor,
usually directly over the center of the pad.

Correct Maintenance of Tools and Equipment

                A further part of a health and safety strategy is to maintain tools and equipment regularly.
This helps to identify safety problems before they become a serious hazard. Only qualified people
should carry out the maintenance. They should also keep records of their inspections.

Management

                There is one important way to follow the rules and to manage the safe use and
maintenance of tools and equipment. This is to assess and control the risks.

                Employers should conduct Risk Assessments that cover the setting up, use and
maintenance of tools and equipment at work. The risk assessment process must identify the
environments in which workers will use the tools and equipment; any local conditions that may affect
safety; and how the workers will actually use each item in practice.

                Risk assessments such as these let employers know what orientation and training they
need to run. The assessments also show what information employers must make available in the
form of posters, user guides and Safety Signs.

By limiting risks in this way, employers have some control over potential hazards. Specifically,
employers should:

 Place guards on machinery to protect fingers and limbs.

 Ensure that system controls have appropriate warning devices.
 Insist staff wear personal protective clothing as necessary.
 Arrange for maintenance when equipment is safely shut down and not in use.

General Rules in the Use of Cleaning Equipment

1. Check electrical appliances and equipment before use. Check if there are frayed wires, loose
plugs ad connections. Never use any appliance that is defective.
2. Handle equipment with care and make sure it does not bump on hard surfaces.
3. Clean and store equipment in their custodial room immediately after use.
4. Empty dust bags of dry vacuum cleaners before they overload and after each use.
5. Follow manufacturer’s operating instruction.
6. Schedule a regular check-up of equipment to prevent serious breakdown.
7. To avoid electric shock or short circuit, do not expose equipment to rain or water. Store them
indoors to protect them from getting wet. Electrical equipment should never be used in wet
surfaces.