slip and fall hazard

[bob vawter]

In my opinion, there’s not many men more worthless than a music minister. Drama … always drama … and they’re generally as narcissistic as Mikey.

IMPOSSIBLE !!!

 

[hogjowl]

Ive held back on responding to some of the posts. I really thought this was a professional board where we could make people aware of what could happen. We as service providers change the environment where our customers live. If something happens because of that change, we are responsible. Although we do this on a daily basis, we need to be aware of that.

Things CAN and DO happen. People do get hurt. The first case I worked on, the lady will NEVER walk correctly again. Its clearly the cleaners fault.

I did get my answers from an IICRC certified instructor. Just thought I would get some input and constructive conversation here.

You forgot we’re actual carpet cleaners who could have been on the wrong end or your “expert” testimony. Most IICRC instructors haven’t professionally cleaned carpets in years and have no real emotional connection to everyday cleaners other than $ for classes. They can’t see themselves as being on the receiving end of your testimony. I can still remember the days of Jeff Bishop avoiding contact with cleaners. I find myself still viewing the IICRC as being detached from on high.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

I mean, how much is there to say, short of chaining them to a chair? I swear, they would get up and walk with the chair chained to em

 

[sassyotto]

I mean, how much is there to say, short of chaining them to a chair? I swear, they would get up and walk with the chair chained to em

We change their environment and we should reasonably inform them of anything that may affect them. If they choose not to listen to what we say or ignore the Caution Mats we place, then that is on them.

 

[sassyotto]

I can still remember the days of Jeff Bishop avoiding contact with cleaners.

I distinctly remember him inviting the entire class to his home after the day of instruction.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

I'm not arguing that with you, but the most you can do is remind and caution them we have changed their environment. I've never had a
slip and fall from carpet cleaning, but I've had several walking across finish or into stripper with signs all all over the place. Go to mopping, go to walking!!!!

 

[hogjowl]

We’re adults and should be able to disagree without it affecting our relationship. I’m still your friend as long as you don’t throw me under a bus.

 

[sassyotto]

We’re adults and should be able to disagree without it affecting our relationship. I’m still your friend as long as you don’t throw me under a bus.

promise

 

[BIG WOOD]

When you hire an electrician to rewire something in your home, do you mess around in his area of where he’s working?

What about someone who’s doing construction? Do you walk around his extension cords and boards laying around?

How about a roofer? Do you walk around the edge of the house barefoot risking stepping on roofing nails while they’re working?

Is your answer to those questions no?

Then if the sue happy Karen is going to be stupid and walk her clumsy feet around your slippery surfactant charged water area, then it’s her own fault.

I still think you’re being a douche.

Be a man!

 

[bob vawter]

We’re adults and should be able to disagree without it affecting our relationship. I’m still your friend as long as you don’t throw me under a bus.

Ya......that's my job....!

 

[they live]

We’re adults and should be able to disagree without it affecting our relationship. I’m still your friend as long as you don’t throw me under a bus.

He didnt throw them under the bus he just stepped on the gas peddle to finish the job.

 

[sassyotto]

When you hire an electrician to rewire something in your home, do you mess around in his area of where he’s working?

What about someone who’s doing construction? Do you walk around his extension cords and boards laying around?

How about a roofer? Do you walk around the edge of the house barefoot risking stepping on roofing nails while they’re working?

Is your answer to those questions no?

Then if the sue happy Karen is going to be stupid and walk her clumsy feet around your slippery surfactant charged water area, then it’s her own fault.

I still think you’re being a douche.

Be a man!

well fact is the lady went to to ask the tech a question. The tech was not in the room being cleaned. She never walked on the carpet.

Im not to judge, just giving them facts.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

Did she trip over a hose? What caused her to fall?

 

[they live]

well fact is the lady went to to ask the tech a question. The tech was not in the room being cleaned. She never walked on the carpet.

Im not to judge, just giving them facts.

It was none of your business.

 

[Mikey P]

This is a worthwhile thread. Slip-and-fall is one of those risks that can change someone’s life and put a cleaner in a bad spot fast, so discussing prevention and documentation isn’t “throwing cleaners under the bus”—it’s protecting them.

Quick housekeeping: as we transition Mikey’s Board into TheCleaningStandard.com, we’re tightening standards for tone. Disagree all you want, but personal insults (“douchebag,” “narcissist,” "Karen' etc.) aren’t acceptable. Keep it professional and keep it on the work.

Let’s stick to actionable input: what procedures and warnings are you using to prevent slip hazards when carpet meets tile/wood, and how are you documenting it?

Personally I give verbal warningS and use runners or at least OP bonnets at transition areas. I also strongly encourage the customer to go run errands or pull weeds or clean the garage

Little off topic but yesterday I had a next day emergency call for dog that vomited up some really strange black messes which I was very successful on. Surprisingly so considering how dark and sparkly they were.

I walk my dog past this house countless times and never paid much attention other than that their yard is unusually big for our neighborhood. This customer had so many unique things going on in this home, it once again took me at least an hour to pull the vacuum out of the van.

I told them about my over 40 years of an experience and then countless thousands of homes I've been in and that this was the first time I've ever seen this....





Besides their aging dog and how we deal with it emotionally, other topics of discussion were a fondness for the Eastern Sierra, a great aerial photo they have of our Valley from 20 years ago, which led to discussions on growth, changes in sand washes, digital photo resolution and hot air balloon rides.
We also discussed bird feeders, bird ID cameras, the various visitors in the yard at the time which includes cedar wax wings doves and an usual amount of robins.
We discussed our careers and the use of AI and how we both deal with it.
They told me about their past carpet cleaner who they've used for 20 years. I was surprised that they were using a guy from out in Dayton, which is over an hour away, based solely on the fact that when they went looking for him 20 years ago he was the only one they could find that actually had a truck mount. Dayton guy wasn't answering his phone so I got this blessing...
Not exactly sure how they found me but there was another cleaner who lives between me and them just the block away, who for some reason they passed on.

My phone was busy the entire time I was there cleaning and I was also testing the Jubilee on their driveway with a couple of things but at the end of the job we discussed speed drying, the possibility of wicking due to the juiciness of the dog messes ,and she promised I would be hearing from them at least three times a year. Between the husband, the live in grown son, and the aging dog and an active garden, they are hard on their floors

Fortunately they have slate floors throughout the house so I'm not too worried about slip and falls.


Btw, the back and forth ugliness in this thread won't be missed what so ever.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Ive held back on responding to some of the posts. I really thought this was a professional board where we could make people aware of what could happen. We as service providers change the environment where our customers live. If something happens because of that change, we are responsible. Although we do this on a daily basis, we need to be aware of that.

Things CAN and DO happen. People do get hurt. The first case I worked on, the lady will NEVER walk correctly again. Its clearly the cleaners fault.

I did get my answers from an IICRC certified instructor. Just thought I would get some input and constructive conversation here.

I appreciate your post and questions Paul.

It can be difficult to look at an industry, or ourselves, through objective lenses.

We were sued once, and I had a very difficult time for years afterward watching legal dramas or documentaries. I felt the most bitterness because of the toll it took on my father; I can't say that his cause of death in December was due to the stress of the lawsuit, but I can say that he was never the same afterward.

Due to that, when I recently was made aware of a safety issue here at our business (the suit had nothing to do with workplace safety, but still I was hypersensitive) I reacted badly to it. It took me an evening of reflection, and of course I corrected the issue the next day. It took me longer to thank the person who pointed it out.

Had it not been pointed out, I could have easily been subjected to a personal injury claim. Worse yet, someone could have been hurt or killed.

So thank you for the questions Paul. I hope those observing this thread will learn from it, and protect themselves and others.

Not just for the worry of financial loss....but for the reason we need to look out for one another.

 

[Brian H]

I have been in the business for more than 40 years running multi-truck operations so I have plenty of stories I could tell about slip and fall accidents. Many years ago we added a line to our work order that warned the customer that the carpet and/or flooring are slippery and caution should be used. This was one of several things we added to help with the post cleaning results. The customer actually has to sign that they have read and understand the post cleaning instructions.

I also have been part of at least 6 OSHA (it's called MIOSHA in Michigan) inspections of our rug cleaning facility so I understand a bit about safety around the work place. Everyday is a new challenge to inforce the workplace rules! You would not believe the things that you need to teach your employees to do/not do. One of the ones that really stands out is that you need to train your employees to not break off the ground plug on an electrical plug.