In terms of industry regulation, liability, and occupational exposure, the medical industry is by far the most stringent and involved field when it comes to cleaning. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as well as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have both developed standards and practices that one should follow when performing medical cleaning or when exposed to potentially infectious materials (like blood). Although these rules and regulations pertain especially to the medical field (or, technically, to any field with occupational exposure), we would be amiss to assume that they have no place in other facets of cleaning.

One of the primary goals of medical cleaning is to have a very involved approach to disinfecting surfaces, thereby reducing the amount of pathogens present in the environment to the smallest level possible, or at least to an acceptable level. Notions such as touch point disinfection, chemical dwell time, and hazardous chemical training, among others, are a few of the many very helpful concepts one might learn while training to be a medical cleaner.

Even if one never plans on cleaning a medical facility, it is still advisable to complete an OSHA compliant bloodborne pathogen and hazardous chemical standard certification. This is because exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) is possible in practically any field of cleaning. From cleaning schools to replacing liners in a feminine waste disposal bin to deep cleaning a residential bathroom, the presence of viral infections like Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), among many others, is possible. The IJCSA is a great source for finding OSHA compliant training.

To summarize, one doesn't have to be a medical cleaner to use medical cleaning practices in their usual course of business. While there are many procedures that are unnecessary when working in other industries, the medical field is a unique lens that allows one to employ a more cerebral approach to disinfecting and sanitizing, giving their clients greater peace of mind and protecting them from hazardous and potentially life threatening pathogens. If you're a building owner or manager looking to hire a residential or commercial cleaner in your area, try using the IJCSA Business Directory.