In a workplace, company owners and managers need to have a duty of care toward their employees. This includes taking steps to ensure their safety, wellbeing, and health. It's an important factor in building trust with your employees and showing you're committed to their well-being.

One way to make sure their workplace is clean and sanitary is to have a carpet cleaning service come in. Not only does it provide aesthetic appeal for your employees and any customers you have coming into your place of business, but it provides improved health benefits for them as well.

To learn about the benefits of office carpet cleaning and how it can improve your business, read on for more information.

What is Duty of Care?

The requirements that fall under duty of care cover a variety of topics and can be manifested in a lot of different ways:

  • Creating a safe and healthy work environment
  • Defining employee jobs, roles, and assignments in a clear way
  • Providing employees with an area for relaxation and rest
  • Protecting your staff members from discrimination
  • Complying with all regulations and laws
  • Reviewing and consulting with your employees on work performance and various issues
  • Protecting employees from harassment or bullying, either from third parties or colleagues
  • Taking precautions to avoid environmental pollution

Employers have various health and safety responsibilities that they need to keep in mind for their employees. These responsibilities can apply to not only employees, but visitors, clients, or temp workers. Some health and safety regulations may not be spelt out on paper, but they can fall under "common law responsibilities."

Common-Law Responsibilities

Common-law regulations refer to laws that were passed through the courts instead of being put into effect by written regulations. Under these regulations, employers can be guilty of negligence if they do not uphold the duty of care to their employees and anyone else who sets foot on their premises.

One of the regulations is ensuring the health and safety of their employees. One way to minimize pollutants in the air and create a healthier environment for your employees is to regularly schedule a commercial carpet cleaning.

Why You Should Regularly Have Your Office's Carpets Cleaned

Having your carpets routinely cleaned can provide your business and employees with countless benefits. Having a clean carpet will improve the first impression people have of your business. The condition of your office is a reflection of your business itself.

In addition to aesthetic benefits, having your carpets professionally cleaned provides health and safety benefits for your employees.

1. Removes Allergens and Bacteria

Often when your carpet appears clean and free of stains on the surface, it's harbouring dangerous bacteria and allergens. Studies have shown that there are around 200,000 bacteria per square inch of your carpet. Of these various bacteria, some of them cause illnesses, including:

  • E. coli
  • Salmonella
  • Norovirus

These types of bacteria are dangerous for your employees if they come in contact with them. There are more bacteria in your carpet than on the average toilet seat. Additionally, if your carpet gets wet and moist, that's the perfect breeding grounds for mould and mildew.

The average home accumulates around 40 pounds of dust throughout a year-long period. Your carpet is the ideal place for allergens that trigger upper respiratory problems like asthma or allergies if they're not treated. The dust and pollen float in through open doors and windows, coming to rest on your carpet.

Having your employees come down with a stomach bug or some other type of illness can affect your entire company. When illnesses like the flu become airborne, your carpet captures all of that bacteria. As people walk on the carpet, it redistributes it throughout the air.

People throughout your office will become infected as these allergens and bacterias start floating through the air. Scheduling a regular carpet cleaning, especially during months where allergens and illness are the most prominent, will help alleviate that problem.

2. Improved Air Quality

Vacuuming alone won't remove all of the dust, dander, and tiny organisms that are in your carpets. Those particles are oftentimes buried far down in your carpet fibres, making them hard for you to remove without commercial equipment.

Over time, those irritants will build up in your carpet. This results in an environment that is difficult for your employees to breathe in. If they have a respiratory issue, this can cause serious health problems for them.

If an employee is exposed to a large number of certain allergens over a period of time, it could cause an allergic reaction. Having an office carpet cleaning by a professional company will get down deep into your carpet's fibres. It's done at high pressure and temperature, removing countless particles that are difficult for you to see.

3. Eliminate Odours

Spills from food and drink can cause not only unsightly stains on your carpet but can contribute to the carpet's overall odour. Tough stains can be difficult to get out of your carpet as well. The longer they sit on your carpet, the more difficult they are to clean and the more they begin to smell.

There are a variety of other factors that can contribute to a carpet's odour besides food and drink spillage.

Pet Odour

Some offices allow you to bring in your furry friends. While they are cute and can help boost office morale, they can also wreak havoc on your carpets. Even the most well-trained pet can have an accident on the carpet.

The smell of pet urine or vomit often returns after being spot cleaned with your average carpet cleaner. The bacteria in pet vomit are actually activated by water, making the smell intensify even after cleaning. Professional carpet cleaners have products and techniques that effectively remove any pet stains and odours.

Dampness and/or Moisture

Moisture often gets underneath the carpet pad and carpet, resulting in musty odours. The moisture can come from a variety of places:

  • Humidity
  • Leaky roof
  • Spills
  • Potted plants
  • Flood

If moisture isn't addressed properly or continues over a period of time, it can cause mildew and mould to start to grow under the carpet pad. The smell will increase and it will also cause a health risk.

Food and Drink

As mentioned before, food and drink spills are one of the most common causes of carpet odour in an office setting. The organic products found in food and drink attract bacteria. As those bacteria begin to break down, they start to releases gasses that smell.

The best way to combat carpet odours is to get to the root of the problem. Knowing the cause of the odours will help you figure out how best to treat the smells. A commercial carpet cleaning company will have the best tools to remedy the problem and get your carpet smelling fresh.

How to Prepare for an Office Carpet Cleaning

There are a few ways to prepare when you have a professional carpet cleaning company come in to clean your carpets. The goal of the company is to clean your carpets without disturbing you or your employee's workflow. A professional company will work around you, making the experience as hassle-free as possible.

Some carpet cleaning companies offer regular cleaning services, so check with them for any deals or packages they may offer. They'll use low moisture systems to clean your carpets. This is great for heavy pieces of furniture that can't be moved for carpet cleaning as they won't be damaged during the process.

Move any small pieces of furniture that you can before the cleaning company shows up. If you're unable to do so, the crew that shows up to clean will assist in any way they can.

You won't need to vacuum before you have your carpets cleaned. That is a usual step in the prep work done by a cleaning company. If you do decide to vacuum, that won't cause any problems with the professional cleaning.

You don't need to arrange to have someone on the premises during the entire cleaning process. Someone will need to be at the property before the cleaning starts to let the team into the building. Additionally, someone will need to be there at the end to make sure the job is done to your satisfaction.

The cleaning company will need access to electricity, water, and parking when they arrive at the worksite. If these items aren't readily available or on-site, let the company know beforehand so they can plan accordingly.

Schedule Your Office Carpet Cleaning Today

Performing a duty of care for your employees and visitors to your business is essential in creating a pleasant workplace environment. Cleaning your carpets isn't purely for aesthetic reasons. It does create a welcoming environment but it works double-time to remove harmful allergens and bacteria from your office space.

If you're interested in talking to someone about scheduling an office carpet cleaning, contact us today company - A Cleaning Service.

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