If you are an industrial facility manager, an operations manager or an asset maintenance planner, then you’ll be aware that your industrial site can experience rapid grime and residue build-up. You will also know that overlooked industrial cleaning can impact safety, machinery and costs, potentially attracting the unwanted focus of workplace health and safety (WHS) managers and compliance officers.
The bottom line is that there are unseen but serious consequences of neglecting or deferring surface cleaning in industrial settings. It leads to safety risks, asset (equipment) degradation and higher long-term costs.
Common Contaminants in Industrial Zones
Common contaminants in industrial zones include:
- Oil, grease and chemical residue.
- Dust accumulation and carbon build-up.
- Hazardous spill residues, sludge and grit.
All these contaminants not only make your industrial premises look dirty and unmaintained, but they can also be potentially dangerous. These contaminants (like concrete degreasing) can be difficult to clean without specialist equipment. Industrial surface cleaning is best done by experienced professionals.
Risks to Worker Safety and Compliance
Potential risks to worker safety and compliance that come from unclean industrial premises include:
- Slippery surfaces that increase slip and trip incidents.
- The build-up of contaminants may violate workplace health and safety regulations, leading to penalties such as fines or the temporary closure of your premises until WHS issues are rectified.
- An increased fire risk from combustible dust and chemicals.
Workplace health and safety compliance is non-negotiable, especially in an industrial setting with potentially higher risks. Regular and professional industrial safety cleaning can help to mitigate preventable workplace health and safety risks.
Having a regular and tailored professional cleaning and maintenance program for your industrial premises can help to both demonstrate and ensure your legal compliance.
Damage to Facilities and Equipment
Damage to industrial facilities and equipment that can be caused by skipping regular cleaning includes:
- Damage to industrial surface coatings, flooring and structural concrete.
- The corrosion of machinery and a reduced lifespan of these industrial assets.
- Unscheduled equipment failures leading to operational downtime.
- Contamination risks in food processing or sensitive manufacturing environments.
All this damage can result in significantly higher industrial costs and lower productivity.
Cost of Neglect vs. Preventative Cleaning
The significant costs of cleaning neglect in industrial settings must be weighed against the cost of preventative cleaning. You can do this by:
- Comparing emergency repairs and downtime costs vs. scheduled maintenance costs for each piece of industrial equipment that you own. Consider what-if scenarios for essential operational equipment in your analysis.
- Highlighting the return on investment (ROI) from regular and scheduled industrial cleaning to ensure that you have both the budget and time for it to be carried out by industrial cleaning professionals.
- Estimating the long-term savings through asset preservation and compliance that comes from regular and professional industrial cleaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does industrial cleaning differ from other types of cleaning?
Professional industrial cleaning typically requires the use of specialised cleaning equipment and chemical materials to ensure the maximum possible cleanliness and hygiene on specific industrial surfaces. A range of cleaning methods, equipment and materials may be used depending on the industrial situation.
What industrial areas can benefit from a regular professional clean?
Locations where machinery is operating, like production lines, as well as loading/unloading zones and storage spaces, are usually the prime focus areas in a professional industrial clean.
How often should industrial premises be professionally cleaned?
This depends on the type of industry you are in and how dirty your premises get on a daily or weekly basis, as well as the type of grime or residue that builds up in your operations. It also depends on your equipment’s cleaning and maintenance requirements to maintain its longevity and performance.
It’s best to get advice from a professional industrial cleaning service to tailor a regular program that caters for your specific industrial needs.
How much does professional industrial cleaning cost?
Once again, this depends on a range of factors, including how large your premises are, the type of industry you operate in, and how dirty your premises and equipment get. It’s best to get a quote from an industrial cleaning specialist that is tailored to your specific needs.
Can you do DIY industrial cleaning?
Unless you have significant industrial cleaning experience and the time, equipment, materials and expertise to do the job properly, then it’s best to leave the job to professionals so that you focus on what you do best.
Kleenit’s Industrial Cleaning Capabilities
Industrial cleaning is one of our specialist services at Kleenit. We have been operating across Australia for 30 years, and we tailor regular cleaning programs for a diverse range of industrial facilities, including:
- Warehouses.
- Processing plants/factories.
- Transport depots for heavy vehicles and/or mass numbers of vehicles.
Our industrial cleaning services include pressure cleaning and protective coating applications for industrial surfaces. We pride ourselves on offering proactive and customised cleaning and maintenance solutions for our diverse range of industrial clients. We offer the best industrial/factory cleaning Australia has to offer.
Our services are available in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and Hobart, as well as regional areas including Newcastle, Wollongong, the Central Coast, Geelong, the Mornington Peninsula, the Gold Coast and Carnarvon.
Besides industrial cleaning, we also offer a diverse range of other cleaning services, including:
- Pressure cleaning (of pavers, concrete, driveways, building and house exteriors, patios and decks).
- Special cleaning services, such as drone cleaning of high-rise buildings.
- Graffiti removal.
Like to Find Out More?
Contact us today to find out more about our industrial cleaning services at Kleenit. We would be happy to answer any questions you have, and you can also book a site inspection where we will provide you with a free, no-obligation quote for your tailored cleaning and maintenance plan.