Proven Industrial Cleaning Services to Skyrocket Efficiency
As facilities of industry such as manufacturing plants and high volume warehouses, they are the backbone of today’s economy, fueling supply chains around the world to keep up with the latest products and technologies. It is generally left to chance and neglected until disaster or a safety incident occurs causing damage and/or downtime to a plant.
An industrial facility can create a hazardous environment and be one of the most dirty work places. Industrial facilities have the environment can have a massive amount of combustible dust, grease, chemical spills and wear and tear on equipment and furniture. So it is very important to have the correct and proper cleaning done in these environments. Gifted Hands provide a quality service in all types of industrial cleaning. They are able to clean all environments to the highest standard of cleaning to help prevent any possible risks to your staff and to help extend the life of expensive equipment and furniture.
On site industrial cleaners specialize in cleaning heavy industrial environments. By bringing the heavy equipment, correct chemicals and safety systems on site, a professional industrial cleaner is able to complete a thorough clean of the entire facility. They are able to thoroughly clean areas that are normally too difficult to clean for general cleaning contractors, such as under machinery, deep clean of drains, and removing of stubborn grease deposits. They work to complete the clean in the correct manner to adhere to Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulations and to protect expensive capital equipment from damage.
Read on to find out how to implement the 9 key industrial cleaning services to keep facilities operating productively within industry standards. This guide thoroughly outlines the costs and safety of the facilities’ cleanliness and outlines industry needs in detail, as well as tips on selecting the right people for the job – such as Sydney-based specialists Gifted Hands Cleaning, leading industrial cleaning services in Australia.
What Are Industrial Cleaning Services?
Industrial cleaning is one of the forms of facility maintenance, which involves the cleaning, sanitizing and maintenance of large industrial environments such as factories, warehouses, and power stations. The definition of industrial cleaning must not be confused with that of commercial cleaning and it is not uncommon for people to ask what the main differences are between the two. The simple answer is that while both forms of cleaning are designed to clean facilities and keep them in good order, commercial cleaning involves a number of different tasks, which are mainly confined to low-risk environments, typically used for aesthetic purposes.
The term industrial cleaning can often be misunderstood. People commonly ask about the main differences between industrial cleaning and commercial cleaning. The basic answer to this is that commercial cleaning of facilities, such as offices, schools, shops and restaurants focuses on the appearance of the area and ensuring that there is a clean and hygienic environment for the users. These environments are typically low risk and typically require only basic cleaning tasks such as vacuuming of carpets, taking out the trash and recycling, dusting and cleaning of surfaces with common cleaning products.
Unlike commercial cleaning facilities, the dirt found within industrial facilities is of a very hazardous nature. It can be in the form of combustible dust, hazardous chemicals, metal shavings, fiberglass or even exhaust residue from engines and plant equipment. Working in these environments requires the utmost care as the risk of injury or even death is ever present. Furthermore, the dirty items found within industrial environments can be of a large and cumbersome nature and require specific tools and cleaning equipment to be able to clean effectively.
Industrial cleaning environments demand the highest level of expertise, from the type of heavy duty cleaning solutions that are used to industrial strength cleaning agents such as degreasers, to the correct industrial cleaning tools to be used such as industrial floor sweepers, industrial scrubbers and even industrial hydroblasters with ultra high pressure. However, it is the correct application and correct solutions that are the real key to the highest level of clean in an industrial cleaning environment.
Due to the intense nature of industrial environments the appropriate Work Health and Safety (WHS) practices and guidelines must be adhered to. This may include, the correct disposing of hazardous waste, confined space entry procedures and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). A professional industrial cleaner must understand all the necessary practices to safely clean any industrial facility, while maintaining the productivity of plant operations.
Industrial cleaning is strictly governed by Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulations. The waste from a number of industries are deemed hazardous and the cleaning of industrial properties requires a high level of training in how to safely collect, transport, store and dispose of hazardous waste. Many industrial facilities also have confined spaces that require specialized cleaning methods.
This along with the correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as respirators, hard hats, steel capped boots, gloves and eye wear, makes for a very complex job. To perform an industrial clean safely and correctly requires a great deal of knowledge and in no way can be comparable to the work that is conducted on a daily basis in commercial cleaning facilities.
The Core Benefits of Professional Industrial Cleaning
Most Facility Managers view maintenance as a sunk cost – a necessary cost but one that cannot be recovered in any way. Professional industrial cleaning however is another matter entirely and can be viewed through the lens of Return on Investment (ROI). The vast majority of services that a professional industrial cleaning crew can provide will yield massive dividends in every part of an industrial operation and safeguard the industrial business.
Enhanced Workplace Safety & Compliance
Slip and fall accidents in industrial settings can occur very quickly. Slippery oil, grease and moisture on floors can cause serious accidents. By utilizing heavy duty scrubbers and the right industrial strength cleaners, deep industrial cleaning can remove these hazardous materials from your floor, helping to provide a safe working environment for you and your employees.
But beyond the potential for serious harm to individuals and damage to a company’s brand and reputation through ill health and accident, there is the potential for more serious consequences that could even result in the forced closure of a business. The risk of fire from the accumulation of combustible dust is well documented with high profile examples around the world.
With the potential for serious loss of life, serious injury and major property damage, it is critical that any potential for the accumulation of combustible dust is removed. At the same time, the risk of serious illness from the inhalation of airborne particulate matter must also be addressed. By using HEPA-filtered vacuums that are designed to handle a wide range of materials, including those that are hardest to clean, professional industrial cleaners are able to safely remove any potential for dust to cause problems.
Moreover, by doing so in accordance with the Work Health and Safety (WHS) standards set by Safe Work Australia, businesses can rest assured that they are meeting all of their obligations to protect their employees from any potential for harm. If the operational conditions are not met serious consequences can occur, such as legal action against the company and possibly even loss of license to operate.
Increased Operational Efficiency and Machinery Lifespan
Industrial machinery and factory equipment is one of the biggest single investments that a business makes. Grease, grime, oil, dust and debris of all kinds can quickly accumulate on and in machinery and impact its operation negatively. In particular, heavy loads of grease can cause machinery to run at excessive temperatures causing premature wear and failure. The abrasive qualities of particulate matter such as dust, dirt, sand, metal shavings etc can also act like sandpaper wearing down moving parts quickly.
It’s a well known fact that machinery in factories and warehouses requires a large amount of capital to purchase. Furthermore, when large amounts of grime, carbon and grease are left to settle on and within equipment it can cause large amounts of damage. By allowing grime, grease and other debris to gather on equipment, it can cause over heating, increased wear and excessive maintenance required.
On the other hand, thoroughly cleaning, decarbonizing and degreasing of manufacturing equipment greatly increases the efficiency of a machine, in terms of both mechanical and thermal, allowing for peak performance of equipment. In turn this allows machinery to last for a much longer period of time and will greatly decrease the chances of equipment suddenly breaking down and requiring large amounts of time to repair. This will also decrease the huge costs of repair greatly as well as reduce the large amounts of time that would normally be required for a machine to return to full operation.
Environmental Responsibility and Waste Management
As industries are now creating many more byproducts as part of their normal daily operations. A lot of these byproducts are hazardous to the environment and must be disposed of properly in order to prevent any damage to the local environment.
When it comes to the handling and disposal of hazardous waste from an industrial operation, those who provide professional industrial cleaning operate with a high regard for the environment. Their extensive knowledge on how to contain and clean up spills means that any that occur are dealt with in the shortest time possible with the least amount of environmental impact.
They also operate in full compliance with environmental regulations. And, more importantly, the majority of companies offer environmentally responsible cleaning products and services. The best provider of professional industrial cleaning services will use the most effective, eco-friendly and biodegradable industrial cleaning products and solvents that are available. They will also use hydroblasting with water recycling which is highly cost effective in addition to environmentally friendly.
A number of companies like Gifted Hands Cleaning, offer cost effective, professional, environmentally responsible industrial cleaning services of the highest standard for all types of industries. These services are ideal for companies that are committed to doing their part for the environment in order to boost their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
9 Essential Types of Industrial Cleaning Services
Industrial cleaning encompasses a range of cleaning solutions aimed at a variety of specific zones within a plant or warehouse, each having their own particular set of dangers and the need for very specific solutions to ensure the most clean and hygienic environment possible. Whatever your industrial cleaning needs are, it is likely that a package of specialized solutions are required.
Below are the 9 important Industrial Cleaning Services for a productive work environment.
1. Heavy Machinery and Equipment Cleaning
Heavy Machinery and Equipment Cleaning – greasy equipment maintained. Manufacturing equipment and heavy machinery need to be regularly cleaned to remove grease, oil, metal shavings and carbon deposits that can cause over heating, excessive wear and breakdowns. Professional cleaning involves degreasing, decarbonizing and cleaning of all parts and components. Low moisture cleaning is used to protect all electrical components. Regular cleaning allows for maximum use of expensive equipment and minimizes time lost in repairs.
2. Factory and Warehouse Floor Maintenance
Many commercial warehouses have floors that are prone to becoming damaged through heavy wear and tear, caused by forklifts, pallets, dropping of objects and spills of chemicals. Dust is also another major problem as it can cause respiratory problems to staff. Many people mistakenly believe that all they need to do to a floor is to give it a good clean with a broom every now and then.
However, sweepers are not able to pick up the majority of dust that is left on the floor, and it can be spread around instead, causing more problems than before. That is why it is highly recommended to use a ride-on scrubber or floor sweeper that is industrial grade, as these are designed specifically to pick up dirt and other debris from floors, including deeply ingrained objects. Protect your floors with safe and durable maintenance programs that create slip resistant flooring while protecting your floors from corrosive substance damage to the concrete..
3. High-Pressure Washing (Hydroblasting)
For exterior surface cleaning as well as industrial cleaning of machinery and production lines that include loading docks, High Pressure Washing is a valuable service. This service utilizes highly pressurized streams of water that can be heated to wash away any type of surface grime or stubborn deposit including grease and dirt that has accumulated over decades as well as old paint, rust and scale and hard dried chemical spills.
In addition to being able to remove heavy grime and old coatings, High-Pressure Washing is also commonly used as part of pre-painting surface preparation to ensure a long lasting coat. Also, all water is controlled to prevent any excess from running off and potentially polluting stormwater drainage. This contaminated water is instead collected and properly disposed of at an approved wastewater treatment facility.
4. Industrial Exhaust System and HVAC Cleaning
Air quality in industries is very important to be kept at a good level. All exhaust systems, air ducts and other ventilation systems have to be cleaned on a regular basis in order to avoid accumulation of hazardous materials and in order to avoid problems. Removing toxic fumes, grease, etc. from ventilation systems industrial cleaners are improving air quality in buildings and are protecting employees from problems of respiratory diseases. disease. Moreover, clean ventilation systems help to protect a facility from the risk of fire and help it to comply with a variety of environmental and occupational health and safety regulations.
5. Confined Space Cleaning
Industries that store products and materials in storage tanks, silos and containers face a huge problem when the residues from previous products, such as liquids, slurries and wet solids, do not get completely cleaned and removed from the tank. Professional Confined Space Cleaning services perform industrial cleaning of storage containers, by entering the space and, using a number of different methods, and pieces of equipment, cleaning the contents and walls of the container.
All this is done safely, even in environments where there are risks of gas accumulation, or lack of oxygen. The personnel carrying out these types of cleaning tasks are highly trained and experienced, and utilize breathing apparatuses, as well as equipment for gas monitoring, as well as equipment for safe retrieval, should the person need to exit the confined space in a hurry.
6. Silo and Tank Cleaning
Silo’s and storage tanks used in food processing, agricultural applications and chemical manufacturing require regular cleaning to ensure that residual material from previous products are not left behind to potentially cause cross contamination, the growth of microorganisms or chemical reactions with subsequent products stored in the silo or tank. Silo’s and tanks are usually cleaned using specialized washing techniques, large vacuum units for the removal of all material and thorough cleaning and sanitizing to ensure that all residual material has been completely removed and that the vessel has been completely neutralized to ensure safe future use.
7. Hazardous Waste Removal and Spill Response
Hazards such as chemical spills, biohazards and industrial waste can cause significant damage to your business, and pose serious health risks to yourself and others. Accidents can and do happen, but with a professional industrial cleaner on hand to deal with any spill or hazard, the damage can be limited and controlled. We use the most up-to-date equipment and cleaning products to safely and professionally neutralize any hazardous spill, and we possess all the necessary licenses and certification to safely collect and transport any hazardous waste for proper disposal.
8. Combustible Dust Removal
Dust can cause explosions and it is a major concern for a number of industries, including those that manufacture wood, metal, agricultural, and textile products. A major concern in these types of industries is that fine particulate material can be suspended in the air and in the right concentration; causing a massive explosion that can destroy a facility. Using sweeping or compressed air to remove the dust only spreads the problem as it moves the fine particles in the air. The best way to mitigate the problem is to use an explosion-proof, HEPA-filtered vacuum that is designed to safely remove the combustible dust from the entire facility.
9. High-Level and Ceiling Cleaning
The upper reaches of industrial buildings including exposed timber, structural steelwork, high bay lighting, ventilation duct work and skylights are susceptible to general debris including dirt, dust, hair, grease and other contaminants. This type of debris can become airborne and settle onto exposed surfaces. In time, the debris can become dislodged from its upper environment and fall onto production lines, cause damage to open machinery or contaminate products in work in progress.
High level cleaning using specialized access equipment including scissor lifts, boom type aerials and height safety harnesses allow our experienced technicians to provide the highest quality of ceiling cleaning which not only enhances the cleanliness of a facility but also provides better lighting by removing grime from lighting fittings.
Key Industries That Require Specialized Cleaning
Industrial spaces may carry the same hazards from a general perspective, but the range of cleaning solutions required varies greatly from one industry to another. One size does not fit all when it comes to ensuring a company is meeting their cleaning requirements and adhering to regulatory compliance. In this series of articles we will take a closer look at how different industries are cleaned on an industrial scale.
Manufacturing and Assembly Plants
In Manufacturing Facilities and Assembly Plants there is continuous production running 24 hours / 7 days per week. The process therefore generates continuous waste from metal shavings and synthetic offcuts to abrasive dusts and industrial lubricants. The major focus for Industrial Cleaning is the continuous removal of these byproducts and the deep degreasing of production lines and machinery. Frequent floor scrubbing also is a necessity to keep the floor safe and hygienic to prevent damage to automated machinery and to maintain production around the clock.
Food Processing and Beverage Facilities
Food processing also needs to be thoroughly cleaned and whilst the items to be cleaned are different to the manufacturing sector, there is also a need to adhere to the same strict cleaning and sanitizing regime in order to prevent any food borne illness.
The risk and potential consequences of allowing any contamination to occur far outweighs the need to ensure that all items used in the cleaning process are actually safe to use and are approved for use by the relevant Food Safety Authority. This is particularly so when dealing with potentially high risk products such as meats and dairy.
In order to provide maximum protection against all types of bacteria and other pathogens, Food Processing Industrial Cleaners use hot water foaming cleaning solutions that are specifically designed for use in the cleaning and sanitizing of food processing plants and have been approved for such use by relevant authorities such as the FDA.
High pressure washdowns are also used to clean packaging lines and where cold storage rooms are used to store large quantities of raw ingredients, such as fruits and vegetables. In these situations, deep cleaning of all areas and the use of approved sanitizers are critical in order to prevent the growth and spread of mold and other organisms that thrive in such environments.
Pharmaceutical and Chemical Plants
Pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing requires the highest level of precision cleaning available. Some facilities contain certified cleanrooms where the number of airborne particles is strictly controlled to prevent contamination of products, including life saving medications, and volatile chemical compounds. The cleaning of these environments requires staff to wear full body suits, utilizing the highest level of ultra-pure cleaning agents, with specialized equipment such as microfiber and strict cross contamination protocols. Furthermore, the management of residue from toxic chemicals and hazardous runoff on a daily basis is a critical requirement for the cleaning of these environments.
Warehousing and Logistics
Modern Distribution Centres (DC’s) and warehouses these days are massive square footage and operate 24 hours a day, with a high volume of movements conducted by Forklifts, Pallet Jacks and large trucks with dirt, oil and moisture from outdoors attached to their tires. Large amounts of fine pallet dust is constantly being produced from all the cardboard boxes in storage.
This fine dust coats all the products in the warehouse and is also sucked into the building’s air conditioning systems causing blockages and high maintenance costs. Effective professional cleaning of large warehouse spaces in Australia is generally conducted by utilizing large industrial ride-on sweepers and scrubbers that are designed to work quickly and efficiently to cover large areas of floor space.
The end result of effective cleaning of warehouse floor space is to present a high standard of cleanliness to enable all high level cleaning to be conducted to effectively remove and prevent any dirt, dust and grime from coming into contact with all stored products.
How to Choose the Right Industrial Cleaning Company in Australia
Picking the correct maintenance contractor for your facility can be a daunting task for Facility Managers. Choosing the wrong contractor for maintenance in Australia can result in serious consequences for non-compliance, result in accidents and cause considerable damage to plant and equipment. That’s why it’s so important to thoroughly investigate potential companies before awarding them a contract. In this article we explore the key things to look for when choosing an industrial cleaning company in Australia.
Verify Certifications, Licensing, and Safety Training
There is a big difference between an industrial cleaner and a commercial cleaner. There is a big difference between a maintenance contractor and a cleaning contractor. The major differentiator between an industrial cleaner and a commercial cleaner is safety and compliance. Prior to entering a client’s site, all workers require a current valid White Card or general construction induction training card.
Depending on the high level cleaning a facility requires, all workers may also require Working at Heights certification and a license to operate elevated work platforms such as scissor lifts. As well as meeting all relevant legislation, an industrial cleaner should also conduct business in line with Safe Work Australia guidelines and hold an ISO accreditation such as ISO 9001 (Quality Management) or ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety).
Demand Customized Cleaning Schedules and Operational Flexibility
Industrial facilities are usually 24/7 and have rigorous maintenance programs. A good industrial cleaner can arrive at your facility during the night, or early in the morning to clean while you are undertaking planned maintenance to have all areas cleaned to a high standard by the time that work is completed and operations are restarted. They should work around the clock to meet your program and arrive on time to complete a deep and thorough clean of all areas to maintain a safe and clean environment for your workforce and visitors to your site.
Evaluate Advanced Equipment Capabilities and Eco-Friendly Practices
The equipment required to deal with the harsh materials found in industrial facilities is advanced and is designed for the tough cleaning task at hand. Look for cleaning companies that utilize heavy duty ride-on industrial floor sweepers to clean large warehouse floors, specialized HEPA-filtered extraction units for cleaning up of combustible dust, and high capacity hydroblasting units to remove grease and other stubborn material from large surfaces and in confined spaces.
Also look for a cleaning company that is environmentally friendly by utilizing eco-friendly industrial degreasers and by having a good chemical management program in place. Also find out if the company has a system in place for the capture and recycling of wastewater. Choosing an industrial cleaning company that is at the cutting edge of technology, has good green credentials and a good safety record will result in a top quality job being performed for you and your company and will also show that your company is a responsible organization and supports Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
The Gifted Hands Cleaning Advantage
When it comes to the important job of protecting your premises and managing operational risk while achieving superior levels of cleaning and hygiene, Gifted Hands Cleaning is Australia’s leader for all industrial cleaning maintenance needs.
At Gifted Hands Cleaning, we treat every facility as its own world, with its own risks, requirements and challenges. That is why we create customized cleaning programs for every client. With our broad-based experience servicing a wide variety of food and manufacturing sites across the country, we have the expertise and facilities maintenance skills to service any of your facilities, large or small. We understand that no two sites are ever alike and treat each facility individually. Our tailored industrial maintenance cleaning programs are designed with your facility and needs in mind.
Safety & Compliance is non-negotiable to us at Gifted Hands Cleaning. As industrial cleaning experts we can safely and lawfully remove any materials from your facility. Our team of Industrial Cleaning Technicians are all Fully Certified and have worked at heights certification, confined space entry certification, Chemical Handling Certification, High Pressure Jetting Certification and so much more. Our team of experts will leave your facility in working order ensuring all materials have been safely removed, and all Working at Heights, Confined Space Entry procedures followed, eliminating any risk of operational disruption and any Work Place Health and Safety Breach.
We invest in the latest, best industrial cleaning equipment available to provide the deepest, longest lasting clean for our clients in the shortest possible time. We use specialized industrial floor sweepers, high specification extraction equipment, and state of the art industrial cleaning solvents to ensure we provide the best possible results. This enables us to get your plant up and running as soon as possible, minimizing downtime and thus increasing productivity for you.
At Gifted Hands Cleaning, our qualified Australian team of experts specialize in industrial cleaning for a variety of settings. Whether your business needs clean offices or a hygienically cleaned food processing plant, we are available to assess your site. Implement the perfect solution to ensure your workers and premises are maintained in the most safe and hygienic environment to optimize your business. Contact Gifted Hands Cleaning today to have one of our team members perform a custom facility assessment to find the correct cleaning solutions for you.
Industrial Cleaning Cost Factors
Most Facility Managers would want to clearly know the costs of professional maintenance on their industrial site; however, as each industrial site can be greatly different and varies greatly from another, there is no Price List for industrial cleaning services. Several key variables affect costs of industrial cleaning services on an industrial site.
- Size and Layout of the Facility: The amount of square footage at a given industrial facility directly affects the amount of time required for maintenance, as well as the amount of necessary equipment. For example, large warehouses are going to require more hours of work and specialized cleaning equipment than a smaller industrial facility such as a manufacturing workshop.
The level of risk and hazards present at your facility. Clean facilities with highly toxic chemicals, biohazards, or combustible dust present increased risk to both our technicians and the public. As such, we must use specialized PPE, treat waste as hazardous, and pay our technicians hazard pay to perform work in these facilities. All of these factors increase the cost of industrial cleaning services at your facility.
- The Frequency of Service: One-off deep cleaning or emergency cleans like spill responses will generally be priced higher per clean than having regular scheduled cleans, where we perform preventative maintenance to keep your facility clean.
- Specialized Equipment: While not always charged for, some of the largest costs for industrial cleaning services are for the use of expensive, specialized equipment. For example, a large ultra-high-pressure hydroblasting rig or heavy-duty elevated work platforms for high-level cleaning can incur additional costs as equipment fees.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How often should an industrial facility be professionally cleaned? Frequency of professional cleaning depends on industry type and degree of activity. Companies involved in food processing and the pharmaceutical industry typically require a daily cleaning and disinfecting service to adhere to strict regulations and high standards of hygiene. General manufacturing facilities with active waste production require a continuous waste removal service, however, the facility would benefit from a full, top-to-bottom deep clean on a quarterly or bi-annual basis when the facility is shut down for maintenance (include high-level areas such as rafters and exhausts in deep clean).
Do industrial cleaners bring their own cleaning tools and equipment to your facility? Yes, professional industrial cleaners bring everything they need to do one time cleaning or on an ongoing basis. This would include all of the heavy cleaning equipment such as industrial vacuums, industrial floor scrubbers, ride on scrubbers and much more. Many industrial cleaning tools and cleaning agents are too hazardous for your staff to use on an ongoing basis. Industrial cleaning supplies and PPE (personal protective equipment) such as industrial gloves, masks, safety glasses, hard hats and safety harnesses are brought as required..
What is sanitizing versus disinfecting and how does it apply to your specific facility? We hear these two words used to describe processes to sanitize or methods to achieve a clean environment but they truly represent two levels of clean for a specific purpose to reduce germs to safe levels to protect public health. The term “sanitizing” describes the process of reducing the germs on a surface to safe levels as dictated by public health. This can be a 99.9% kill rate or better for bacteria.
“Disinfecting” describes the process to completely destroy or inactivate all specified types of fungi, bacteria and viruses on contact with hard non-porous surfaces and objects through the use of specific chemicals usually stronger than those used for sanitizing. High risk environments such as food processing environments rely on total disinfection.
Modern industrial facilities are expansive, complex and can be very hazardous. What may seem like an adequate inspection and cleaning can easily become an exercise in danger with the potential to ruin expensive equipment. Instead of treating industrial cleaning as an item to check off your list to remain in compliance, invest in your company by choosing a seasoned, proactive team of industrial cleaners who will work with you to develop a comprehensive schedule of cleaning that will serve to optimize your working environment and make for a safe working place for your employees.
By taking the operation of your industrial cleaning in house, you can better concentrate on the operational side of your multimillion dollar business to increase profitability. Contact Gifted Hands Cleaning today to schedule a consultation.