Office
“It is not uncommon, especially in India, to act after a crisis has struck,” says Bharathi Kamath, Managing Director, Carewel Facilities India Pvt. Ltd. “By preparing for foreseeable havoc monsoon could create in any office, the organisation will be in a better position to handle any eventuality caused due to flooding or water logging.
Hence, every organisation must draw up a list of possible problems which are likely to arise. This will tremendously impact upon the working conditions and daily business operations.
The service provider should meet the facility & administration team of the client and understand at least the past two years experience.
- Go through the records, if, mainta
ined. - Document the meeting and action plan.
- Prepare a detailed report and checklist to be followed during pre-monsoon & monsoon.
What are the problems likely to arise?
- Water leakage which can lead damage to interiors and electrical installations indoor
- Electrical leakage
- Dampness
The following areas need to be addressed:
- Periodic cleaning of terrace.
- Terrace drain pipes must be checked to ensure there is no clogging.
- Balcony water outlets to be checked to ensure there are no blockages and water flows through.
- Windows must be kept closed and checked periodically as there is possibility of employees opening the window.
- Window openings must be checked for any gaps or defective locking system.
- Walls to be checked for any cracks.
- Basement to be checked if water outlets are sufficient and are not clogged.
- Different types of door matting to control and prevent slippery floors.
- To install lightening/thunder controller.
- Avoid renovation work during monsoon. Particularly painting and polishing jobs.
- The external façade paint can be sealed with a surface sealant paint before the onset of monsoon to prevent seepage.
- Optimum utilisation of air conditioners to be studied and planned as the weather is cooler.
- Rain water harvesting.
Finally, the housekeeping staff should be alert to monitor if any damage is being caused due to rain and inform the facility head immediately.
In offices where there is no night shift the security personnel should be informed to check the premises and report immediately.”
Banks
“Precautions have to be taken right from the doorstep,” says Yeshwant Ghugare, Operation Manager, A1 Facility Services. “Usually in a bank there is a continuous flow of traffic and the floor tends to get wet calling for frequent cleaning. A rubber carpet at the entrance is a must. Much of the water from the footwear gets absorbed here. The floor duster inside will further reduce the residue from the footwear. Resultantly, the floor will get less wet and the frequency of wet mopping could be reduced. At the same time, the frequency of dry mopping during monsoons is increased; mopping is done every 30 minutes.
Use of cleaning chemicals which leave behind a fragrance becomes imperative to ward off flies.
We are constantly on the look out for dirt & flies and take action immediately. During monsoons, tissue papers and hand dryers are put to more use.
A bucket with a message ‘Put your umbrella or raincoat inside’ is a common sight at the entrance of many banks and offices.
We need to ensure that the AMC of pest control is in place. Rodents and termite treatments are unavoidable and we suggest this to the clients as in most cases they are not aware. Besides, we also use sticky mats in the premises, especially in kitchens, to trap rodents.
Absenteeism cannot be called a monsoon issue but for any housekeeping company, this can cause trouble. Keeping a couple of relievers on site is important. Janitors falling ill or getting late due to traffic jams during rains is a matter of concern.”
Industrial Cleaning
According to Pradeep Mehra, MD-G4S Facility Services Pvt. Ltd, industrial housekeeping demands more process orientation. “It involves more than just cleaning up of the area. It’s an exercise in continuity & entirety to reduce the waste by keeping the work area/stations clean, safe and in orderly state.
The following areas to be attended to:
a. High pressure jet cleaning of all drains.
b. Use of industrial vacuum cleaners.
c. Use of industrial sweepers to clean outer areas prevents clogging due to clustering of dry leaves/waste.
d. Carpet & upholstery cleaning with cleaning agents.
e. Use of floor scrubbing and polishing machines to deep clean.
f. Separate waste bin positioning for wet and dry garbages.”
