Hospital
Effectiveness and Safety in Floor-Cleaning
Kelheim (Germany), January 2005
Cleanliness and hygiene are more than just cosmetic in a hospital. Impeccablehygiene and a sterile environment are the most important aspects when it comes to cleaning at the Kelheim districthospital.
The individual is at the centre of the recovery process
Kelheim district hospital is a category II regular care hospital. Patients are cared for on nine wards containing 235 beds,in general care and on the interdisciplinary intensive-care ward.The clear focus at Kelheim district hospital is on the wellbeing of the patients. This includes not only thorough cleaningbut also the requirement for heavily used areas to dry quickly, and for staff and patients to be able to walk on them againin safety immediately afterwards. “Our visitors and patients must not be exposed to the risk of slipping and falling,” saysMr. Manfred Geiger, head of cleaning services at Kelheim district hospital.The particular hygiene requirements in hospital demand a high degree of cleanliness and sterility. Kelheim districthospital chose an innovative cleaning system from HEFTER Cleantech to tackle the job.
Low-Noise Cleaning Thanks to the SILENT System
Bacteria, viruses and even fungus can lead to dangerousinfections. Because these germs only occur in high concentrationsin hospitals, it is important that hospitals especiallyare cleaned regularly and often in the course of the day.About 6,000 square metres are cleaned with the HEFTERsystem every day. A start is made as early as 6.30 am on theoperating theatres, the outpatient and surgery departments,the delivery room, the day clinic and A&E. From 9.30 onwardsall the floors, corridors, lobbies and lifts are cleaned.It is also extraordinarily important that patients and visitors arenot inconvenienced by the noise of a cleaning system. TheHEFTER system is equipped with what is known as a“SILENT” function, which compared with conventional machinesby other manufacturers significantly reduces the noiselevel for use in hospital, for example. As a result it is possibleto clean with no difficulty, even in the course of the day.
Cleaning time reduced by approx. 50 %
When the HEFTER system was acquired it was at the samepossible to optimise working practices and the organisationof the cleaning processes. “As a result it provedpossible to reduce the hours worked formaintenance cleaning by more than 50 %.”Reasons for this include the following:VARIOTECH® technology, which makes itpossible to clean with a machine even inpoorly accessible areas, such as underhandrails and in corners.In addition to which, Mr. Geiger has exploitedthe advantages resulting from the use ofVARIOTECH® and worked out an optimumcleaning schedule in terms of the areas tobe covered.Time-consuming distances and even liftrides have thus been optimised, contributingto a significant reduction in working hours.Another further advantage for the user is the large 100-litretank, as a result of which the entire hospital can be cleanedwith just one tank-full.
Not just ready to walk on, but also dry straight away
“If it should be possible not only to walk on the floor immediatelyafter cleaning, but also for it to be dry straight away, thenit has to be a HEFTER system,” says Mr. Geiger enthusiasticallyabout his cleaning system. The arrangement of the suctionbars immediately behind the brushes and the extremelygood suction are the crucial features of the technology used.“Working with HEFTER has proved to be very successful forus. We get very good support, and even if there does happento be a fault occasionally, the service engineers are here in notime to get it back in working order again,” says ManfredGeiger, summing up.
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