Standard Operating Procedure

BU6 - Damp wiping surfaces

The candidate will be asked to remove light soiling from 1 horizontal and 1 vertical area approx. 2m2 each.

Health and Safety compliance

Demonstrate an understanding of the appropriate documentation:

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) assessment and Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Task Risk Assessment (RA)
Method Statement (MS) or Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

§ The candidate should be able to identify the relevant information in the correct chemical COSHH
assessment, Task Risk Assessment, Method Statement/SOP.

Recommended equipment

Warning signs
Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), as specified by COSHH assessment and/or task risk
assessment
Colour-coded cloths – Cloths can be traditional or microfibre
Colour-coded hand bucket or appropriately labelled spray bottle
Cleaning agent (if appropriate)
Measuring apparatus (if appropriate)
Non-abrasive pad

Procedure – Health and Safety considerations

1. Carry out a dynamic risk assessment on arrival at the work area and place warning signs

§ A dynamic risk assessment ensures the candidate is safe to work in the area as it demonstrates it
is free from any immediate risks. Place warning signs to provide adequate warning of work in the
area, this could include a sluice room, cleaning cupboard, cleaning store, preparation area as well
as the work area.

2. Demonstrate an understanding of the standard operating procedure or method statement, risk

§ The chemical safety data sheets must be easily accessible and up to date as they need to be given
to medical professionals should an accident occur. They detail the make-up of the chemical to
ensure the patient receives the correct medical treatment.

3. Ventilate the area, either open a window, a door or comment on the air conditioning as the building
dictates

§ Ventilation reduces the risk of inhalation when making up chemical solutions and aids drying of
equipment and materials.

4. Wash your hands as per the company policy or according to the BICSc approved method, ensuring that
you check for cuts and abrasions and cover with a waterproof dressing if required.

§ Cuts or abrasions should be covered with a waterproof dressing to prevent cleaning solutions and
bacteria entering the blood stream and potentially causing blood poisoning.

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 5. Check and wear PPE as per COSHH and/or risk assessment

§ Ensure PPE is a suitable fit, fit for purpose and undamaged.

6. Confirm all necessary colour-coded equipment is available and fit for purpose

§ Correct colour-coded equipment reduces the potential risk of cross-contamination and ensures
demonstratable best working practices.

7. Check the area where you are working for any signs of pest infestation and report them in line with
company policy

§ Signs of pest infestation should be checked in the cleaning cupboard/store and throughout the task
in the work area but must not be disturbed as the pest control company will use this evidence to
identify the type of infestation.

8. Check the area where you are working for any signs of damage and report them in line with company
policy

§ Damaged assets such as broken tiles, torn/snagged carpet, chipped desks in either the cleaning
cupboard/store or work area should be reported as per company policy to prevent any further
damage and/or the operative being blamed for the damage.

Procedure – Method

9. Identify the correct product for the surface to be cleaned

§ The product should be suitable for the type of surface and diluted according to the manufacturer's
instructions if in a concentrated form.

10. Prepare the chosen product

§ Preparation of the product should be according to manufacturer's instructions, always adding

§ When water is initially added to the container if foam is formed it indicates there are traces of a
product present in the container. Therefore, the container should be thoroughly rinsed with water
to ensure it is clean before adding any other product to the water.

§ It is recommended that a maximum of 2.5L of water is used in the hand bucket, this complies with
the HSE recommendations for lifting. It also helps to prevent overuse of chemical as 5L soils as
quickly as 2.5L, but it means you are pouring twice as much product down the drain each time you
change the solution.

§ Wipe any spillage as soon as it occurs with a damp correctly colour-coded cloth.

11. Commence the task by removing any items from the area(s) to be cleaned

§ The cloth should be folded so that 8 working surfaces can be achieved.

§ Immerse the cloth in the solution in the hand bucket and wring out as dry as possible or spray the
cloth if using a spray bottle.

§ On horizontal surfaces start with the edges then infill with systematic overlapping passes. If a table
is being cleaned the legs should be wiped after the horizontal surface has been cleaned. Legs
should be wiped from top to bottom pushing loose dirt to the floor where it can be removed.

§ On vertical surfaces work from top to bottom. Wipe the top first, followed by the sides and infill the
remaining area with systematic overlapping passes.

§ If using a hand bucket rinse/wash out/change cloths as they become soiled. Change the
water/solution as required. If using a spray bottle refold and respray or change the cloth as
required.

§ For stubborn marks carefully use the non-abrasive pad.

§ The candidate's feet must remain flat to the floor at all times to prevent overreaching and/or over
balancing.

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 12. Items removed from the area(s) to be cleaned must be reinstated at the end of the task

Procedure – Safe storage of equipment

13. Demonstrate the correct cleaning and storage method for equipment, materials and PPE used for the
skill

§ Where laundry facilities are available candidates should follow the agreed company procedure.

§ Relevant parts of the equipment should be cleaned and rinsed after use to minimise the risk of
chemical reaction due to them being mixed as a result of chemical residue.

14. Remove warning signs, clean as required before storing safely

§ Best practice is to clean warning signs after each use to reduce the potential risk of cross-
contamination.

15. Close any ventilation as applicable

16. Remove PPE and wash your hands as per the company policy or according to the BICSc approved
method

17. The storage area must be left in a clean, tidy and secure condition on exit

§ Good sustainable practice would be to turn off the lights and air conditioning, if applicable, prior to
securing the storage area.

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