Facilities need to place a high level of trust in a contracted cleaning staff who are often expected to work autonomously. But hiring cleaners is not without its dangers, according to an article on the European Cleaning Journal website.
“Staff and contractors have the right to work in a safe environment,” said cleaning contractor Julius Rutherfoord operations director Chris Parkes. “The risks of poor security vetting have always been present but are even more of an issue today."
Parkes said that security checks need to be improved and standardized across the industry.
Julius Rutherfoord regularly rejects between 20 and 40 percent of its applicants due to forged or out-of-date IDs. “This shows just how complacent some contractors have become — and how strong security measures need to be,” said Parkes.
A Shift in Healthcare Facilities Management
Trauma-Informed Design Transforms Boston Homeless Shelter
Inside One of Healthcare's Most Ambitious Hospital Projects 
Disinfectant Contact Time: The Case for Biofilm Disruption
Texas HHSC Reaches Construction Milestone for Panhandle State Hospital in Amarillo