Facilities Manager's Desk Reference, 3rd Edition

32Housekeeping and Cleaning Services

32.1 Cleaning services

Cleaning is defined by the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) as the removal of dirt, soil or unwanted matter from any surface. Cleaning of services is required to provide a safe, hygienic and comfortable working environment. Organisations have a duty to ensure that cleaning takes place to the required standards and to meet statutory obligations. The standard of cleaning indicates a great deal about the values held by an organisation and its FM (facilities management, or facilities manager) function. Clean buildings show to both the employees and the customers that the organisation is able to provide a suitable working environment. A clean workplace will directly and indirectly affect the productivity and well‐being of employees. Perceptions of cleanliness can be a challenge for FMs, as individuals will expect different standards. The main reasons for cleaning are to:

• Promote health and safety.
• Prolong the life of fixtures, fittings and surfaces.
• Improve the appearance of the establishment.
• Improve the well‐being of occupants and users of the premises.

The duty to provide a clean working environment comes from the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which states that the employer has a general duty to provide a safe place of work and not expose their employees to any risks to health and safety. There are also specific cleaning duties under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. These ...