How We Do High Level Cleaning Safely

What is high level cleaning?

High level cleaning refers to any cleaning carried out beyond normal reach, typically anything higher than two metres from the ground. If you work in manufacturing, warehouses or any kind of industrial site, you know that high ceilings and vast production areas are common. High level areas can include aspects such as:

Or, pretty much any elevated structure where dust and grime can settle.

Because these areas are hard to access, they’re highly unlikely to be cleaned regularly. Over time, dust and dirt can settle on these horizontal surfaces, becoming both an eyesore and a potential fire hazard. We also often find that high level surfaces become an “out of sight, out of mind” dumping ground for debris, nuts, bolts, and other discarded metal or waste. It’s also common for these high level areas to be left uncleaned for years at a time.

High level cleaning demands specialist access and cleaning equipment, capable of navigating sensitive areas while achieving a high standard clean in a challenging environment. It must always be carried out by a trained and experienced team who understand the hazards involved and know how to manage them safely.

What are the hazards associated with high level cleaning?

The most obvious hazard that springs to mind with high level cleaning is falling from height. The HSE reports that a significant number of workplace accidents occur when workers overstretch from ladders or work from unstable surfaces such as chairs or makeshift platforms. However, cleaning in industrial environments presents many more hazards which need to be accounted for: 

Industrial environments are inherently hazardous, even under normal circumstances. High level cleaning adds further complexity, as teams must carefully navigate around pipework, machinery or awkwardly positioned equipment. The hazards of industrial sites combined with that of high level cleaning is why we take Health & Safety so seriously.

It’s essential that any live or moving machinery is isolated before work begins. Where possible, equipment or machinery should be moved to create a safe and clear working area – however in many cases the needs of production makes this unfeasible. MEWP operators must therefore take particular care to avoid damaging infrastructure or machinery as they manoeuvre their equipment.

Factories and warehouses can be extremely busy environments, with forklifts, moving machinery and heavy footfall traffic being commonplace. All working areas must be securely cordoned off to protect against falling debris or tools, and a safety banksman should be present to ensure that no one passes beneath cherry picker baskets while cleaning teams are working overhead.

High level cleaning inevitably disturbs settled dust and dirt, which can pose respiratory hazards if inhaled. It’s important that operatives wear adequate face fitting masks that form a proper seal so that they’re protected throughout the job.

Our team take Health & Safety extremely seriously.

Why do industrial sites need high level cleaning?

High level areas are understandably left out of regular routine cleans due to access challenges, especially during production when MEWP access may be impossible. However, over time the buildup of dirt and grime can be significant. Warehouses or production areas with open roller shutter doors can also attract birds to nest in ceiling areas which obviously creates hazardous and unsanitary waste.

High level cleaning also plays a large part in preventative maintenance where the dangers of unplanned downtime remain high. Keeping on top of cleaning means you’re less likely to be caught out by maintenance or equipment failure – we recommend that high level cleaning should be completed at least once a year to keep on top of things. A proactive and preventative approach to cleaning also helps massively when it comes to unannounced audits.

How we do high level cleaning safely

Here at Kingfisher Industrial Services, safety and quality is at the core of everything we do. We regularly complete high level cleaning projects for manufacturers, factories, warehouses, and other industrial sites across the UK, and every job we do is planned meticulously.

1. Pre-job planning

Every job we do begins with first contact and a site visit. This allows our Operations Management team to gain all the information necessary to plan a project method that’s safe and efficient. This includes identifying potential hazards such as machinery that will need to be isolated or equipment that needs to be moved. We also plan a logical method of working using high quality industrial cleaning equipment so that we can bring in the project within a competitive timeframe.

2. Scheduling with our clients

Each cleaning project is planned in phases according to what makes most sense for the job. We define zones, allocate timeframes, and ensure that all RAMS have been approved before work starts. Whenever possible, we schedule high level cleaning during shutdowns or low traffic hours to minimise disruptions to production and risk to our clients’ employees.

3. The right team

All our operatives are fully trained and certified in working at height – including IPAF and PASMA qualifications. We never allow lone working at height; every team includes ground level support and clear lines of communication to ensure safe moving of MEWPs around machinery and equipment.

4. The right equipment

For most high level cleaning projects, we use high powered industrial vacuum systems to remove large amounts of dirt and waste from high level surfaces. Every project is tailored to suit the needs of the site, so only the best and most appropriate cleaning equipment is used.

5. PPE and Safety Controls

Our teams take PPE extremely seriously. Every day our team supervisors check that their operatives have all the PPE they need for the job and are wearing it properly, including helmets, harnesses, gloves, safety boots and safety glasses. The work area below the MEWPs is always cordoned off to prevent unauthorised access and to protect against falling debris.

6. Communication and Supervision

Effective communication is crucial, especially in noisy industrial settings where there are many hazards to account for. Every high level cleaning project has a dedicated safety banksman who maintains visual and verbal contact with the cleaning teams to help them move MEWPs in sensitive areas. This ensures coordination and smooth logistical management throughout the process.

7. Documentation and Reporting

We document every cleaning project, including safety checks, equipment inspections, and before and after photos of the work so that our clients can be kept abreast of how their project is going.

Conclusion

High level cleaning isn’t just about appearance – it’s about keeping your site safe, compliant and productive. By combining expert planning, qualified personnel and the right equipment, we deliver complicated large scale high level cleaning projects within deadlines and with no Health and Safety incidents.

At Kingfisher Industrial Services, we take pride in doing the job right – and doing it safely. Get in touch with our team today to organise your high level cleaning site survey.