Keeping the healthcare sector clean

From hospital wards to dental surgeries, there’s nothing quite like the healthcare sector to challenge every aspect of cleaning and hygiene, with the protection of patients, visitors and staff vying for attention against budget limitations.

Therefore, it’s essential that on-site cleaning and hygiene equipment is capable of achieving and maintaining the highest standards in even the most demanding environments.

This begins with surface cleaning, where chemical dispensers used for dosing concentrated and pre-mixed solutions into sinks, spray bottles, mop buckets and scrubber dryers must combine precision and consistency with robustness and longevity.

In fast-paced environments such as operating theatres where excessive force and accidental collisions are common, a tough, impact-resistant dispenser casing helps to ensure consistent, reliable performance while reducing the cost of maintenance, repair and replacement.

When budget is tight it may be tempting to opt for lightweight dispensers but, while such systems are cheaper per unit, they are also unreliable and have a short lifespan, costing more in replacements in the long run compared with higher-quality, longer-lasting equipment.

In many cleaning stations it’s common to see concentrated chemical containers such as 20-litre drums stored unbunded on the floor, causing a potential leakage or trip hazard. Or, worse still, staff dosing detergent and other solutions manually, exposing them to potentially harmful concentrated chemical.

Integrated chemical storage can help solve this issue, enabling operators not only to save space and make cleaning stations tidier and more presentable, but also providing vital health and safety benefits by keeping the chemicals off the floor and avoiding possible spillage and trip hazards.

Such systems typically feature a cabinet-style enclosure where various-sized chemical containers can be stored and connected to the built-in dispenser. Lockable cabinets help to prevent theft and tampering and protect employees against exposure to harsh concentrated chemical.

Managers in the healthcare sector may also be responsible for their site’s on-premise laundry which, if not properly overseen, can be a source of excessive consumption and wastage of chemicals, water and energy.

To avoid this, and to ensure that bed linen, blankets, towels and uniforms are washed to the same high standard every time, it’s advisable to install trusted automatic chemical dosing systems that achieve accurate, consistent chemical dosing over the long term.

The same is true of on-site warewash machines handling high volumes of crockery, cutlery and glassware and in both cases the best systems are built with premium-grade components that offer superior chemical compatibility.

This means parts are more resistant to degradation from harsh concentrated detergents, helping to deliver repeatable results and extensive equipment lifespan while reducing maintenance requirement.

The integration of Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled technology in some chemical dosing equipment is allowing managers and technicians to monitor detergent consumption statistics and system status at their convenience via smart device, PC or laptop, with the only barrier being a Wi-Fi connection.

As well as allowing operators to gain a clear understanding of their application’s cost, this cutting-edge connectivity also helps them to identify areas where chemical is being wasted and adjust programming accordingly.

Plus, technicians may be alerted to anomalies immediately, allowing them to schedule maintenance and avoid costly unplanned downtime as part of an efficient, well-run operation.

When it comes to maintaining exceptional standards in healthcare, it’s clear that a little investment can go a long way. Cleaning and hygiene expert SEKO knows this better than most as the company has been helping operators for decades with a dedicated range of chemical dilution, dispensing and dosing equipment.

These include the modular ProMax dilution system, which allows users to dispense premixed chemical solutions into spray bottles, mop buckets and scrubber-dryers, along with an IoT-enabled warewash and laundry dosing range that gives operators 24/7 access to wash data via the dedicated SekoWeb app and online platform.

Visit www.seko.com to explore the complete range.