Preventive maintenance is a crucial aspect of every business, big or small. Over time, structures will deteriorate and show signs of damage. For example, if not maintained properly, an office building will show more serious damages than those maintained regularly.
What is Preventive Maintenance
Preventive maintenance refers to a proactive maintenance strategy. It involves regular inspections of the property based on a recommended period. With preventive maintenance, the condition of the component does not matter.
Conducting preventive maintenance aims to maximize the life of the property and maintain its beauty and curb appeal. It helps prevent serious problems that will require costly repairs and restorations. It also ensures the safety of the tenants and occupants of the property. For instance, slips and falls can result in costly legal battles.
Why Office Floors Need Maintenance
When talking about preventive maintenance in offices, people think of HVAC, lighting, and other electronic or electrical equipment. However, the floors would usually be among the last items on the list. After all, floors simply need to be free from dirt and debris.
However, slips, trips, and falls are among the top causes of injuries in workplaces in the US. An employee does not have to fall from a high place to sustain serious injuries. Falls on the same floor level can be fatal as well.
Slips and falls are entirely preventable, with industry-standard safety practices and proper office floor maintenance. Falls can result in serious personal injuries such as a head injury, hip injury, or spine injury. These injuries can keep the victim from being able to work for days and even months. Additionally, slips and falls can lead to costly personal injury lawsuits. These can be avoided with safety precautions and preventive maintenance.
Common Causes of Slips and Falls
Here are the common causes of slips and falls.
- Obstruction and Clutter in Walkways
- Floor Damage
- Contamination in Floors
- Uneven Flooring
- Slippery Floors
- Exposed Cables
- Wrinkled and Unanchored Carpets
- Poor Lighting
Floors Maintenance Checklist
Offices and businesses need to ensure that their floors are safe for foot traffic. Here is a general checklist that companies can follow to ensure floor safety.
- Floors must be in good condition always.
- The floors must be clean and dry.
- Floors, especially walkways and exits, must be clear of obstruction.
- Place visible and correct signs when floors are wet and slippery.
- There must be no protruding objects from the floor, such as nails and electrical wires.
- There must be no loose floor tiles or wooden planks.
- Floor carpets must be well-anchored and flat.
Preventive Maintenance That Businesses Should Practice
Proactive maintenance is always better than reactive fixes. Staying on top of the daily situation in the workplace is a must. It involves making sure that every aspect of the office promotes the safety and well-being of every employee.
· Clear the clutter.
One of the simplest ways of improving the safety of any workplace is to clear it from clutter. After all, a cluttered workplace is unsafe, unergonomic, and a recipe for accidents.
Clear the walkways, entrances, aisles, hallways, and exits from unnecessary clutter to promote safe and free-flowing foot traffic. When paths are clear, people have more space to move around, without twisting their way through.
Materials no longer used must be disposed of properly. Tools and equipment must be put back in their designated storage space. Electrical wires must not be exposed in walkways and should be neatly tucked and hidden.
· Check for and replace damaged flooring.
Broken tiles, chipped wood planks, and ripped carpet do not just look unpleasant; they also add to workplace hazards that may result in injuries. As such, housekeeping and maintenance personnel must be on look for damaged flooring. These minor problems requires reporting and fixing immediately.
Some flooring materials, such as hardwood, may require re-coating now and then. In addition, recoating replaces the coating that was stripped off and removes floor scratches.
· Keep floors clean.
Spills can make the floors slippery and prone to falls. Therefore, floor must be kept clean always. In addition, use the right cleaning product and method depending on the flooring material. The wrong cleaning product can cause more problems and even damage the floors.
Cleaning and maintaining floors can extend their life span. They get exposed to foot traffic for hours, every day. Therefore, maintaining them helps them stay in top shape and minimize wear and tear.
A daily cleaning regimen prevents the accumulation of stains and dirt on floors. Dust mopping removes grit and dirt and must be done before damp mopping. Damp mopping removes more stubborn dirt and particulates, which can stain the floor if left unattended. In addition, low-speed buffing can reveal a fresher floor surface in some floor types.
· Check the carpets.
Regularly vacuum carpets to keep them free of dust and allergens. Anchor them flat to the floor to avoid uneven footing, leading to falls.
Carpets easily collect dirt, so housekeeping should clean them regularly. A deep carpet cleaning can flush away dirt and keep carpets looking beautiful.
· Use proper floor and warning signs.
Warning signs can save lives. Hence, use warning signs when floors are slippery, there are slopes, or there is a change in the flooring level.
Warning signs must also be easily visible and understood by everyone. Use the right sign in every situation to avoid confusion and accidents.
· There must be sufficient lighting.
Lighting technically is not part of the flooring. However, proper and sufficient lighting is necessary. Poor visibility can lead to trips and falls. Therefore, employees must always have a clear vision of the path they walk on.
Call Prestige Property for your Office Floor Maintenance Needs
At Prestige, we know that a clean office contributes to the successful image of your business and the well-being of your employees. We use the latest tools in floor cleaning and only the safest cleaning chemicals.
From carpet to hardwood cleaning, our team can help give you safe and clean floors. So, contact us now at (714) 224-0301 and let us discuss how we can help you.
