Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Tackle High Dusting With a Vacuum

  • By Marvin Mauer
  • 07/01/19

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

  • Montclair State University Debuts New VR Facility

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently announced the completion of a new virtual reality learning facility developed in partnership with Dreamscape Learn, according to a news release. The 2,450-square-foot lab space is inside the College of Communication and Media building and will serve students pursuing careers in digital media, virtual reality, and content creation.

  • Phoenix School District Breaks Ground on New Prep Academy

    The Creighton Elementary School District near Phoenix, Ariz., recently broke ground on a campus replacement for Biltmore Preparatory Academy, according to a news release. The new space will allow the school to expand its enrollment by 50 percent for K–8 students and accommodate modern, collaborative learning styles.

  • Cleveland High School Breaks Ground on Modernization

    Portland Public Schools in Portland, Ore., recently announced that construction has begun on a modernization project for Cleveland High School, according to a news release. The existing building will be replaced with a new, 300,000-square-foot facility at the same site.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.