Right across the country, cleaning companies have gone up a gear in their service offerings as part of the ongoing fight against coronavirus.

The highly contagious nature of coronavirus has called for immense flexibility and adaptability across our everyday lives.

Throughout the pandemic, cleaning industry workers, like healthcare workers, have been serving at the front-line to keep us safe at commercial and public sites.

“This pandemic represents an opportunity for the whole cleaning industry to step up to the challenge and alter negative preconceived perceptions about the industry,” says Mark Piwkowski, CEO of leading

Australian cleaning company Quayclean, which has been operating since 2002.

“Too often professional cleaners go unrecognised and are under-appreciated – largely because work is carried out after hours and out of public view. But this pandemic has changed all of that,” he said.

Quayclean is one of Australia’s largest independent operators, servicing over 125 major sites.

“We employ over 1200 full-time, permanent part-time and casual staff right across the country. We provide services to many of Australia’s biggest and busiest Sydney Cricket Ground, Marvel Stadium, Adelaide Oval, the Gabba, Fox Studios, Melbourne Racing Club and Perth Zoo, as well as many high profile private schools,” he said.

Quayclean staff have been placing extra emphasis on sanitising and disinfecting areas such as wiping door plates, handles, waste bins and taps, plus performing antibacterial fogging to support preventative maintenance cleaning measures.

“We’ve also introduced a range of new Safespace communication initiatives such as touchpoint, floor and seat stickers, caution tape and door hangers, “ said Piwkowski.

“This initiative has been specially designed to provide everyone with the highest level of confidence and reassurance that the highest standards of cleaning and sanitising has been undertaken to keep them safe.”

Quayclean has also launched a new commercial arm, Quay Supply Network, to assist businesses, schools and public venues source and supply cleaning and protection products.

“Quay Supply Network specialises in supplying hand sanitiser, antibacterial hand washes and soaps, hospital-grade disinfectants and a broad range of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE),” he said.

In 2018, Quayclean successfully managed an outbreak of Norovirus (gastro) at competition venues during the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

“That experience assisted Quayclean to respond quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic and safely clean, disinfect, and decontaminate customer sites and commercial venues,” Piwkowski says.

Exposure to COVID-19 is also a potential hazard for workers.

“Our management team is very handson; we have ongoing training to ensure we can manage a range of speciality services.

Quayclean staff are advised to wash their hands prior to commencing work and immediately put on their gloves,” adds Piwkowski.

“Work trolleys are wiped at the beginning and end of every shift. Mops and vacuums are sanitised at the end of each shift, and staff are advised to work a minimum of 1.5 metres apart from each other.”