Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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According to the London 2012 Olympics website: "Thousands of staff across the cleaning and waste sectors are needed for hire by London contractors."
I understand that this figure may be rather higher than it should because recruitment has been underway for some time, but I hope that the remaining positions are filled soon, as with the Games just a little over three weeks away, it doesn't leave much time for the all-important training, does it?
People from outside our industry are often heard to say: "It's only cleaning... anyone can do it!" but that's not the case at all. Indeed the need for thorough training is brought home by the story in this week's news of 27 year old nightshift cleaner Wioletta Drozdz, whose arm was pulled into an unguarded conveyor she was cleaning.
Ms Drozdz had not been trained in how to clean the conveyor safely, nor had she seen the machine's cleaning instructions - and her supervisor had already left the premises by the time she started to clean the machine. Many people will think she was lucky to escape with multiple fractures but I think that this accident could so easily have been avoided with the correct training and supervision. And as well as proving costly for Ms Drozdz, this lack of care has proved costly for her employer, in terms of a heavy fine, Court costs, loss of time in dealing with the case and a damaged reputation.
What a waste!
Yours,
5th July 2012