Winter Weather Advisory – Ensuring Safety while Protecting Your Floors
February is a month to love, filled with chocolates and Valentines’. But one thing that’s not so sweet? The typically blustery, cold, wintry weather here in the Northeast that comes along with it. If you’re a facility manager, business owner, or maintenance supervisor charged with keeping your property in tip-top shape, this time of year can prove to be a bit of a challenge. From snow to sleet and back again, it’s a never-ending slush fest on your floors.
So why should you make floor safety and maintenance a priority? Here are three reasons:
1. Having clean, clear floors ensures the safety of all those who come and go throughout the day. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there were over two million workplace injuries in 2018 and workplace slips, trips and falls increased from 2017, resulting in at least eight days away from work on average for the injured employee.
2. Keeping up with wear and tear during the winter protects the investment you or your company has made in your floors. Protecting pedestrian areas with a proactive floor maintenance plan is much more cost-effective and less intrusive than restoring them once the winter weather has already caused damage.
3. Regular floor maintenance keeps your business looking great and that’s even better for your bottom line. Employees are happier and more productive in a tidy, calm work environment and clients can have confidence in your abilities when they’re greeted in a sparkling clean lobby. Make floor maintenance a priority this winter and shine them up, even when the snow’s falling down.
No floor maintenance plan? No problem. The following tips will help keep floors clean, safe and in great shape until spring has sprung.
Roll Out the Red Carpet
It doesn’t have to be red, exactly, but giving guests a warm welcome with extra-large mats is your first step to floor safety. The Carpet and Rug Institute suggests looking for ones that extend from six to fifteen feet at the entrance to trap the most dirt, debris, rock salt, ice melt, and moisture. Wet vacuum all mats regularly on extra messy days to keep them performing (and smelling!) their best. Look for products that contain an ice melt neutralizer.
Read the Signs
When wet weather ensues floor safety needs to be top of mind. Be sure to have multiple “Caution: Wet Floor” signs ready to go so folks are forewarned that floors may be slick until those messes get mopped up.
Place Plastic Runners
There are probably many high-traffic, hard-floored areas at your property. Consider placing temporary non-slip plastic runners at these locations when the weather’s particularly wintry to help keep snow and salt from doing damage.
Give a Warm Welcome
It might be a good idea to invest in commercial-grade floor heaters to help with moisture wicking at the entrances throughout the day. The goal is to keep floors as dry as possible, but warming employees and guests is an added benefit.
Always Prepare Ahead
In the calm before the storm, prepare your floors with a good deep scrub, then recoat them with a high-quality floor finish to seal out damage and stains.
Mop More Than Once
A regular wet mop is one of the best tools to have when you’re up against the weather. When an extra wet wintry mix sets in, you should be ready to mop more frequently during the day. Keep your mopping solution clean by using multiple buckets – one with a neutral cleaning solution and another to rinse – and make sure to thoroughly wring and dry mops after use. The same goes for buckets.
These simple but proactive tips will help stop wet weather from wreaking havoc on your floors this February. And for more in-depth care, trust the team at Jidan Cleaning to keep your business looking its best.
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