Tackle High Dusting With a Vacuum

People tend to notice the cleanliness of surfaces immediately around them like desks, floors, and shelves. They don’t necessarily look up and consider the cleanliness of light fixtures, windowsills, and overhead air ducts. Janitorial professionals know that dust in high places can end up falling onto surfaces where people work, play, and eat. This particulate may become airborne and is easily inhaled into the lungs.

That’s where high dusting tools really change the conversation. Adding extension wands to a vacuum can add 10 to 12 feet of reach, bringing many surfaces within reach. Unless completely ignored, the traditional approach to cleaning high places is either with a ladder and some sort of dusting tool or the utilization of a scissor lift. High dusting tools allow janitors to vacuum these areas with two feet safely on the ground.

Putting someone on a ladder to clean is a potential health and safety hazard. It is the employer’s responsibility to take every reasonable precaution and train janitors on the proper use of a ladder to ensure they are used correctly, thus reducing the risk of serious injury from a fall. With the right high dusting tools added to a vacuum, this risk is mitigated as anyone can clean with both feet safely on the ground.

There’s so much more to vacuum than just floors—be they carpeted or hard surface. By pairing high dusting tools with a vacuum, it can be safer, easier, and more convenient to clean just about anywhere.

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management July/August 2019 issue of Spaces4Learning.

About the Author

Marvin Mauer is the Canadian country manager for ProTeam® (proteam.emerson.com/en-us).

Featured

  • Massachusetts Charter School Opens New Academic Building

    The Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School (AMSA) in Marlborough, Mass., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new academic building, according to a news release. The 17,000-square-foot space will serve as a classroom and science lab building for the student population of almost a thousand in grades 6–12.

  • Michigan School District Installs New Gun-Detection Platform

    Williamston Community Schools in Williamston, Mich., recently announced that it has installed the ZeroEyes gun-detection video analytics platform for its five schools, according to a news release. ZeroEyes is the only solution of its kind with a U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation and adds an AI gun-detection and intelligent situational awareness software layer into existing school security cameras.

  • California High School Starts Construction on New CTE Building

    Analy High School, part of the West Sonoma County Union High School District (WSCUHSD) in Sebastopol, Calif., recently broke ground on a new Career Technical Education (CTE) Building, according to a news release. The 15,000-square-foot facility will offer specialized facilities for students in engineering, welding, culinary arts, agricultural sciences, and design thinking.

  • Kimball International Announces New, Updated Products

    Furnishings manufacturer Kimball International recently announced a series of new and enhanced products for use in education, office, and healthcare spaces, according to a news release.