Advertisement

Ten Tips on Safe Floor Refinishing

Floor refinishing can be complicated and many cleaning professionals overlook the fact that it can also be dangerous.

FORT WORTH, TX—As the weather gets warmer, expect to see more floors in commercial settings being stripped and refinished. This is invariably true in educational facilities but has become somewhat of a tradition in all types of locations, from offices and healthcare locations to retail outlets.

Floor refinishing can be complicated and many cleaning professionals overlook the fact that it can also be dangerous. Because of this, this month’s Powr-Flite Troubleshooter, which focuses on floor care issues, offers the following ten tips on making floor refinishing safer:

1. Know how to use the equipment before operating

2. Always select the right floor pad for the task at hand; for instance, the darker the pad, the more stripping power. This means the machine will do more of the work, reducing stress and fatigue

3. Select a floor machine with a thumb activated safety switch to prevent accidental start-ups

4. Review the cleaning solution’s label and SDS (formerly MSDS), even if you have used the product before

5. Barricade the area, even if you are the only one in the building; some of the most serious slip-and-fall accidents have occurred when building users pay an unexpected visit to a facility unaware floor refinishing is being performed

6. Wear proper protective equipment to avoid eye and skin contact, especially when dealing with chemicals and if manual scrubbing is involved

7. Wear waterproof and rubber soled shoes

8. Make sure the area is well ventilated; fresh outdoor air is preferable to using a facility’s HVAC system

9. Do not over dilute or under dilute strippers or cleaning solutions; there is a myth that if using less water, the product will be more effective-this is rarely the case

10. Use cold water when diluting; heat can cause fumes to be released that can be potentially harmful; also, heat can cause the chemical to evaporate more quickly, rendering the product less effective.


The Powr-Flite.com Troubleshooter addresses some of the most common floor care problems cleaning professionals encounter … and, most importantly, how to tackle them.

About Powr-Flite
Established more than 40 years ago, Powr-Flite manufactures a full line of floor care equipment and carpet extractors for the professional cleaning industry. Based in Fort Worth, TX, the company has over 20 patented designs and its products are recognized throughout the world for their innovation, durability, quality, and performance. Their products are marketed directly to end-use customers as well as through distributors throughout North America, Europe and the Far East.


           
Posted On June 2, 2015
Topics
 

Also in Business and Management

Global Cleaning Industry Weighs In on LEED-EB Version 5
November 4, 2024 Stephen P. Ashkin

Global Cleaning Industry Weighs In on LEED-EB Version 5

October 28, 2024 Kathleen Misovic

Freeze Out Your Competition, Not Your Clients

October 24, 2024 Jeff Cross

Compensation Strategies for Field Operational Leaders

October 24, 2024 Jeff Cross

Positional Succession Planning: What’s Your Next Move?

Sponsored in Business and Management

Sara Porter
October 7, 2024 Sponsored by Spartan

Transforming Clean: An Inside Look at the Healthy Green Schools & Colleges Program

October 1, 2024 Sponsored by Advantive

Operation Headache: How to Overcome Supply Chain Inefficiencies

September 13, 2024 Sponsored by Nilfisk

How Nilfisk Helped Jani-King Unlock New Revenue Streams

September 13, 2024 Sponsored by Precision

Supercharge Business Growth With Data Insights and Analytics

Recent News

ISSA Names 2024 Achievement Awards Honorees

ISSA Names 2024 Achievement Awards Honorees

Labor Department Discovers South Carolina Cleaning Service Misclassified Workers

Broader Screening Methods Help Prevent Spread of Dangerous Fungal Pathogen in Hospitals

New Research Shows Gaps in Cleaning Against Multidrug-resistant Bacteria in Healthcare Settings

Ten Tips on Safe Floor Refinishing
Share Article
Subscribe to CMM