CrestClean personnel deployed to sanitise COVID-19 test stations
Liezl Foxcroft, General Manager Training, Master Cleaners Training Institute, delivering training to CrestClean personnel via Skype.
CrestClean personnel who are ensuring COVID-19 testing stations are regularly cleaned and sanitised have been trained to the highest level for the important task.
A special training session, featuring a live online video presentation, has enabled cleaning teams across the country to be fully prepared when authorities ask for assistance.
The seminar, which has been delivered via Skype, has a strong health and safety component. It includes a section showing how to correctly put on and safely remove the personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to carry out a full pandemic sanitisation clean.
Auckland-based Liezl Foxcroft, who went through the step-by-step process of suiting up, was able to answer questions from CrestClean personnel, who were accessing her seminars from all over the country.
“We have been able to deliver this specific training in small groups in the regions where they work,” says Liezl, General Manager Training for Master Cleaners Training Institute.
CrestClean personnel are already familiar with sanitisation procedures from their mandatory training for the Certificate in Commercial Cleaning, says Liezl.
“This training is just an added protective layer to reinforce what they’ve already been trained in.”
Health and safety is paramount for the wellbeing of CrestClean personnel carrying out a pandemic clean, she says. A key point in the training stresses the importance of the safe removal of the protective equipment.
“We emphasise when they are taking it off, they must ensure they are not touching their face after touching their suit. This is to avoid the chance of cross contamination. We also reiterate the use of the correct cleaning chemicals and equipment.”
Liezl was delighted at how well the remote training sessions had been received. “Everyone is quite confident and really upbeat and prepared for this important work.
“They see this as another vital task and they are very happy to be helping in our community and being seen as leaders in their profession,” she says.
“I think they feel that now, more than ever, they are valued as cleaning professionals. After this training they will be experts in pandemic sanitisation. People are looking to CrestClean to lead the way.”
Last week CrestClean personnel in Invercargill sprang into action after a businessman tested positive for COVID-19. CrestClean was called in to carry out a full sanitisation clean at two buildings in the city the man had visited.
Palmerston North franchisee William Metuamate, carried out a sanitisation clean at a customer’s site after concerns over a staff member’s health.
Glenn Cockroft, CrestClean’s Invercargill Regional Manager, says he was pleased with the attitude of his personnel who carried out the specialist work. “They were all confident in doing this important job.”
CrestClean has now been tasked with a daily sanitisation clean of the city’s COVID-19 testing station.
Meanwhile, in South Auckland CrestClean has been asked to provide sanitising services at a Papakura medical centre and the COVID-19 testing centre in Takanini.
Viky Narayan, CrestClean’s Auckland South Regional Manager, said the feedback from health bosses had been very positive.
“I had a call from the manager at the medical centre to say our guy there has been doing an amazing job.
Throughout the day he’s providing a sanitising service, cleaning touch points and wiping down surfaces inside the building.
“I’m proud of my team members who are in the front line and have stepped up to join the battle against this virus.”
CrestClean franchisees in Tauranga watching the online training presentation.
