No matter your workplace, there will be business cleaning standards to meet. In New Zealand, these cleaning requirements can vary by industry even while the general cleaning principles remain the same. Across all sectors there’s a priority of workplace health and safety, while some sectors require a focus on specific risks or hazards. Let’s consider how these cleaning standards can vary by sector.
Childcare Cleaning Standards
If you run a licensed childcare centre in New Zealand, you’ll know the business must comply with the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 and the Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services 2008. There are certain requirements your childcare cleaning services should incorporate into your cleaning plan to meet requirements, including the daily cleaning of toys and hard surfaces with hot soapy water. One particularly important priority is the cleaning and disinfection of nappy changing areas after every nappy change. The Criteria also require using a disinfectant that is effective against protozoa, bacteria, and viruses to minimise spread of illness.
Aged Care Cleaning Standards
Aged care facilities in New Zealand must comply with the Residential Care and Disability Support Services Act 2018 and the Health and Disability Services Standards NZS 8134:2021. Providers are required to deliver services in a clean, hygienic environment that facilitates the prevention of infection and transmission of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. This is also an essential consideration for medical cleaning services, including for day hospital cleaning, medical practice cleaning, cleaning of pathology labs and medical centre cleaning.
Aged care providers also require a written policy covering the methods, frequency, materials, monitoring and storage for cleaning. Reputable age care cleaning services can help to set your ideal cleaning plan, which might include twice-daily cleaning of high-touch surfaces in communal areas. Meanwhile, daily cleaning with deep weekly cleaning may be an ideal schedule for resident rooms.
School Cleaning Standards
Schools in New Zealand follow the guidelines set by the Ministry of Education, which sets out clear suggestions while engaging a school cleaning company. The template provided by the Ministry, for example, refers to daily vacuuming, frequent wiping down of desktops and refilling of towel and soap dispensers amongst key school cleaning services. While the general requirement is to provide a safe and hygienic environment, specifics of course depend on the individual needs of primary schools, secondary schools, private schools, colleges and universities.
Office Cleaning Standards
Office environments need to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 in New Zealand, which broadly requires maintaining a clean and hygienic workplace. This of course will involve frequent office cleaning with attention given to washrooms, entryways, meeting areas and desk facilities. After hours cleaning can help to minimise disruption and maximise workplace wellbeing, particularly in busy corporate offices. If offices are also following the Green Star NZ rating system, this will include using cleaning products and equipment that minimise environmental impact and staff training on things like safe disposal of cleaning chemicals. AMC Commercial Cleaning maintains certification in ISO 14001:2015, Environment Management System, which means we are well equipped to help with this.
Cleaning Standards for Food Manufacturing
Food safety is controlled in various ways in New Zealand including codes of practice (COPs) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems. Food businesses must maintain food control plans (FCPs), which will set out requirements for cleaning and sanitising procedures. Food manufacturers must also maintain a cleaning schedule setting out what is to be cleaned, how often it should be cleaned, who’s responsible, and what cleaning chemicals and methods are to be used. Minimising the risk of contamination is essential in this sector.
Cleaning Standards for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical manufacturers adhere to the New Zealand Code of Good Manufacturing Practice for Manufacture and Distribution of Therapeutic Goods. As with food manufacturing, there’s no room for contamination in pharmaceutical manufacturing – so it’s imperative to work with a trusted cleaning provider. Clearly set-out cleaning procedures must be established, documented and maintained, and an experienced cleaning company can make this process simpler.
Find a Commercial Cleaning Company to Help you Meet Compliance
Whether you run a school, a factory or a line of retail stores, working with a cleaning company who understands the unique needs of your sector will help you meet your compliance needs. AMC Commercial Cleaning can assist, as we have established and experienced cleaning teams working across Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Christchurch and across New Zealand.
From specialist industrial cleaning to medical cleaning, to office cleaning, we can help to deliver and maintain the exact requirements for your business. Contact us today for an obligation-free quote.
