Use and store equipment and cleaning agents safely
Overview
This standard is part of the competence area related to providing cleaning services, including the use of equipment. It is about using and storing equipment and cleaning agents safely. It is for cleaning operatives who need to follow manufacturer's instructions and procedures for the safe use and storage of equipment and cleaning agents. It is also about ensuring that equipment is in a fit for work condition and making appropriate selections of cleaning agents, using them correctly and disposing of them safely.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
Preparation and protection
1. carry out health checks and follow organisational procedures for safe working practice
2. follow dynamic risk assessment requirements of your organisation within the workplace
3. take the relevant actions depending on the outcome of risk assessments carried out
4. ensure all required products and protective equipment are available
5. wear the relevant protective equipment while carrying out cleaning
6. follow organisational procedures for reusing or disposing of protective equipment
7. ensure the safe systems of work and requirements are followed
8. select the appropriate colour-coded equipment
9. ensure any relevant safety and warning signs are displayed clearly
10. ensure the working area is adequately ventilated for the equipment used and chemicals stored
Using and storing equipment and cleaning agents
11. check equipment is safe and free from faults when removing from storage
12. use specialist equipment for disinfection, including fog, mist, vapour and ultraviolet (UV) systems and follow relevant procedures for re-entry
13. report any faults with equipment to the relevant member of staff in accordance with your organisation's procedures
14. use equipment in accordance with manufacturer's instructions and procedures
15. clean equipment and check for safety before returning it to the storage area
16. ensure the storage area is clean before returning the equipment to it
17. ensure that equipment and cleaning agents are stored securely and in line with health and safety rules and procedures
18. ensure there are no spillages or leakages and manage these if found
19. select the appropriate cleaning agents for the area to be cleaned
20. select and use cleaning agents in accordance with manufacturer's instructions and stock control procedures
21. store cleaning agents securely and safely following access and security work procedures
22. check the stock levels and follow your organisation's procedures for reporting any shortages
23. refill the stock levels when required
Controlling the risk of infection
24. follow your organisation's requirements for mitigation of risk of infection in the workplace
25. follow the cleaning procedures depending on environment and identified risks
26. examine areas for cleaning and identify any high contact touch points
27. carry out cleaning in accordance with work schedule and required frequency depending on the outcomes of risk assessment
28. use cleaning products including specialist cleaning solutions, antibacterial and antiviral chemicals
29. use disposable cleaning equipment to reduce viral loading in the areas being cleaned
30. follow the enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures for suspected or confirmed virus contamination
31. dispose of used cleaning and protective equipment in accordance with specified safety procedures
32. clean and disinfect reusable cleaning equipment
33. wash and dry your hands thoroughly and safely in accordance with organisational requirements
34. ensure the hand washing facilities are maintained with an adequate supply of washing solution, disinfection gels and a hygienic means of hand drying
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
Preparation and protection
1. the health checks and relevant procedures for safe working practice
2. your organisation's principles of dynamic risk assessment within the workplace
3. the relevant actions depending on the outcome of risk assessments carried out
4. the products and protective equipment for carrying out cleaning and infection control
5. how to reuse the protective equipment or dispose of it in line with your organisation's safety procedures
6. how and where to display the relevant safety and infection control signage for cleaning areas
7. the organisational requirements for safe systems of work
8. your organisation's requirements for minimising risk of infection while working on premises
9. how to check that the equipment is safe for use
10. why it is important to choose the correct colour coded equipment and how to use it
11. why it is important to ventilate the area
Using and storing equipment and cleaning agents
12. why it is important to wear protective clothing when using equipment and cleaning agents
13. the location of the storage area and how to gain access
14. the location of the nearest water and electricity supplies to the storage area for cleaning and testing equipment
15. how to use specialist equipment for disinfection using fog, mist, vapour and ultraviolet (UV) systems
16. how to check equipment for faults
17. the relevant member of staff for reporting the faults with equipment and your organisation's procedures for this
18. the relevant health and safety legislation for the use of equipment and cleaning agents
19. how to clean equipment in accordance with manufacturer's instructions and procedures
20. how to store equipment in accordance with relevant health and safety requirements and procedures
21. your organisation's procedures for disposal of expired cleaning agents
22. the relevant legal requirements and safe practices for using cleaning agents
23. the warning signs used on cleaning agent containers and their meaning
24. how to select appropriate cleaning agents for variety of cleaning tasks within your scope of responsibilities
25. why it is dangerous to mix certain types of cleaning agents together
26. why it is important to follow manufacturer's instructions on cleaning agents
27. what might happen if you do not follow the relevant legal requirements for your work
28. why work routines and sequences require to be followed
29. what preparations should be made to the work area before using cleaning agents
30. how cleaning agents should be stored safely and the reasons for this
31. your organisation's procedures for reporting shortages of cleaning agents
32. the types of problems that could occur when preparing and using cleaning agents and how to deal with these
Controlling the risk of infection
33. your organisation's procedures for mitigating the risk of infection
34. the frequency of routine cleaning in communal areas, facilities and high-contact areas
35. the enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures for suspected or confirmed virus contamination
36. the areas for cleaning and how to identify high contact touch points
37. the range of specialist cleaning products and how to use them safely and effectively
38. the cleaning procedures to follow, depending on the environment and risks identified
39. your organisation's procedures for cleaning and disinfection of reusable equipment
40. your organisation's procedures for disposing of used cleaning equipment and protective equipment
41. the duration of hand washing procedures after the protective equipment is removed