It is essential to keep your workplace and living space clean, but what about those difficult-to-reach areas? Now, that’s where cleaning at height (also known as high-level cleaning) comes in handy. Cleaning at height involves both internal and external areas that are difficult to reach.
More often than not, cleaning at height is carried out in industrial, commercial, educational institutions, and homes. Buildings with high ceilings or facade accumulate unseen dust, moss, fungus, and grime, and they can potentially harm the health and safety of the occupants and visitors.
Cleaning at Height for Internal and External Building
Cleaning at height addresses areas beyond the arm's reach, both inside and outside the building. Internally, this includes the cleaning of light fixtures, high walls, air conditioning vents, duct and conduit, windows, curtain blinds, and skylights. Externally, it often involves windows, glass panels, roofs, gutters, metal cladding, aluminium composite panels, natural stone finishes, and signages, among others.
Cleaning at height calls for the use of specialised equipment, tools and chemicals to effectively eliminate stains, microorganisms, and debris. Not a feat to be attempted by just anyone!
The Importance of Cleaning at Height
Let’s delve into the three key importance of cleaning at height.
1. Maintaining aesthetics: Cleaning at height removes dirt, stains, and grime, ensuring a clean and inviting atmosphere, that reflects good housekeeping and professional brand image, will set the tone and leave a good and lasting impression on employees and visitors.
2. Taking care of building material: Dirt, pollutants, and biological growth can interfere with your building’s function over time. Regular cleaning at height removes these harmful elements, and improves the lifespan and performance of building material and equipment. This is important, especially with Malaysia's humid climate that is susceptible to the growth of moss and fungus.
3. Cleaner, safer and healthier environment: Regular cleaning of high areas like ceilings and ventilation systems help improve indoor air quality, prevent accumulation of dust, allergens, and pathogens in indoor air circulation, which can be a safety hazard.
Safety Aspects of Cleaning at Height
Existing legislation in Malaysia does not provide specific definition to work at height. However, according to the Malaysia Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH),the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR) in UK defined work at height as workin any place (including a place at or below ground level) where if there were no safety precaution in place, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury.1
Safety is the key concern when performing cleaning at height, as there’s an increased risk of fall-related injuries. Itis crucial to minimise these risks, for both the cleaning crew and the public, by taking these safety precautions:
● Work areas must be cordoned off to prevent dust or tools from landing on passers-
by.
● Proper diversion must be provided to guide pedestrians.
● Warning signs must be placed at all the right points.
● Sky lift must be parked on a completely level ground at the required height and
position, and safety must be checked.
● Copies of the safety data sheet must be available onsite, in case of emergencies.
● Cleaners must stop work when there’s a sudden change in weather, such as
thunderstorms or strong wind.
DOSH has introduced Guidelines for the Prevention of Falls at Workplaces to ensure working at height.2 Fall protection shall be supplied and used in any place where an employee is at risk of a fall of 2 metres or more. The employer can select the fall protection method that is most compatible with the type of work being carried out.
It’s clear that cleaning at height demands deep attention to details, which can be laborious and time-intensive, as the process includes pre-cleaning, during cleaning, and post-cleaning stages, all of which require careful planning and precise execution.
Thus, cleaning at height should only be carried out by trained and experienced professionals who can perform the job safely and effectively. It is important to ensure that the cleaning service provider is compliant with industry standards and regulations, and the cleaners and sky lift operators are accredited to perform the cleaning tasks at height.
Professional Cleaning at Height
At Maclean, our team is fully accredited by DOSH for Working at Height (WAH) safety and erecting scaffolding. Be it glass, metal cladding, granite, aluminium composite panels, concrete, natural stone, or tiles, we take great care in utilising only the right chemicals, tools, and methods.
Should you require cleaning at height services, kindly email us at enquire@maclean.com.my or WhatsApp us at 019-292 1105.
References:
1. Department of Occupational Safety and Health Malaysia. (2024, April 4). Work at Height.
2. Department of Occupational Safety and Health Malaysia. (2007, March). Guidelines for the Prevention of Falls at Workplaces.