With gyms and leisure centres across Wales given the go ahead to re-open on 3rd May, owners and local authorities should now be putting in place measures and strategies to ensure their premises are disinfected and sanitised ready to welcome back members. They will also be mindful that they need to keep their employees and other visitors safe too.
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, gym members will expect you to have in place the most thorough cleaning strategies to help them feel at ease when they finally start to return to training. At JDK Cleaning we have been working with a number of local fitness centres, including those run by Celtic Leisure, to get them deep cleaned and disinfected prior to re-opening.
As we know what is involved with this process, we’ve come up with these tips to help you to get your facility clean and ready to welcome back your valued members and employees.
1. Follow Public Health Wales Guidelines
The starting point is to look at the Government’s guidance from Public Health Wales which lays out what procedures they expect gym and leisure centre owners to have in place ahead of re-opening.
You need to make sure that you and your team have a good understanding of what disinfecting products can be used against viruses and bacteria. You’ll also need to understand the differences between cleaning, sanitising and disinfecting as follows:
Cleaning (with soap and water) can remove impurities, germs and dirt. You should clean down equipment and frequently touched surfaces before anything else.
Sanitising with appropriate products can reduce specific bacteria which will be identified on the product packaging.
Disinfecting with specially designed products is the process of destroying pathogenic microorganisms and removing most organisms present on a surface.
2. Create A Cleaning Plan
Cleaning and disinfecting will be an important part of your reopening plan and your operational approach moving forward. As you create your plan, keep in mind that these will likely be your new cleaning protocols going forward into our “new normal,” not just a short-term solution for reopening.
Some elements of your plan should include:
Itemise all areas, surfaces, and equipment that will need to be cleaned frequently in your facility. Note how often each surface is touched so you can determine how often they will need to be cleaned. Don’t forget about office areas, cafes, changing rooms, etc.
Prioritise disinfecting frequently touched surfaces (e.g., doorknobs, bathroom facilities, etc.).
Clean all gym equipment after each use. Your plan will need to build in time to clean the equipment. Outline the supplies you will need for this frequent cleaning too.
Consider how you use equipment during classes. Do you want to take the time to clean equipment between clients, or do you adapt your class structure so equipment is never shared during a class period?
Create a cleaning schedule for both the facility and equipment. Make sure your employees follow and document the cleaning schedule.
Part of your plan may also include asking your staff and clients to formally agree to follow your cleaning/sanitising protocols (e.g., you may want them to sign a form agreeing to washing hands before class, wiping down all gym equipment, etc.).
3. Stock up on supplies
Make sure you have an adequate supply of cleaning products on hand before you open. You can clean your gym and equipment as if your space was occupied to determine how much cleaning product you'll need each day. Make sure you have an adequate inventory to maintain these cleaning protocols going forward.
You'll also want to consider the supplies your clients and staff will need. For example:
Hand soap
Hand sanitiser (with at least 60% alcohol)
Sanitising wipes
Gloves (for you and your staff to use while cleaning and disinfecting)
Personal protective equipment (for cleaning)
4. Train your staff
You and your employees will need to be trained on your new cleaning/disinfecting protocols. It's extremely important that your entire team understands the importance of following these procedures and the consequences if they don’t. (It's a good idea to update your employee handbook with this information as well).
Before reopening, walk your staff through all the cleaning protocols. Be sure to explain how you're considering their safety as well (e.g., by providing adequate personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks, etc.).
Do a dry run for your cleaning procedures to determine the time you'll need to properly clean between classes. Adjust your schedule accordingly.
JDK Cleaning
If all this seems daunting, you can always call in the team from JDK Cleaning Services. We have a range of specialist services and state of the art equipment, including our Storm Ballistic Virus Killer machine which means we can clean your fitness facility easily and thoroughly.
To find out more click here or call us today on the number below:
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