9 Essential Cleaning & Hygiene Signage for Your Office
Offices and workplaces can become a busy space, especially in large offices. If the office doesn’t have proper signage, not only may accidents happen, but also the impacts of cleaning and its benefits may be reduced. As a result, business cleaning costs will increase and cause subsequent issues. Therefore, you should install proper cleaning and hygiene signs in the office to prevent such problems.
In this article, we will discuss the benefits of installing cleaning signs as well as the most important cleaning and hygiene signs you should have in your office.
Benefits of Using Cleaning Signs in The Office
There are several reasons why managers or cleaners use cleaning signs in office spaces. Apart from Health & Safety reasons, cleaning signage also benefits office cleanliness and hygiene. Let’s discuss these benefits one by one.
Informing Employees
The first benefit is to inform employees that cleaning is in progress in a specific area of the office. For example, a sign of wet floors not only prevents injuries (which we will discuss soon) but also tells employees not to walk on wet floors until they are completely dry.
Without cleaning signs, cleaning staff may have to clean the area all over again. This will prolong the cleaning time and increase the cleaning costs for the business.
Preventing Harm & Injuries
The second benefit of using signs is to prevent injuries and harm. Lack of certain cleaning signage in the office can result in harm and injuries. These signs are often referred to as “Caution” signs. For instance, wet floor signs or descaling in progress signs are vital to prevent accidents in office spaces.
Stopping The Risk of Cross-Contamination
Cleaning signs aren’t installed just to inform employees. The purpose of many cleaning signs is to guide cleaning staff to use the correct cleaning equipment and janitorial supplies in the correct area in the office. These signs are vital to prevent the risk of cross-contamination and the spread of bacteria and germs around the workspace.
Essential Cleaning & Hygiene Signs for The Office
Cleaning and hygiene signs are often a part of Health & Safety and hygiene regulations. In many countries, installing them in large office spaces is mandatory.
There are 9 signs related to office cleaning and workplace hygiene that you should have, even if there isn’t a specific regulation. In fact, they should be a part of essential supplies and equipment in your office’s cleaning cupboard, similar to personal protective equipment.
#1 Cleaning in Progress
Cleaning in progress is a simple sign that informs other cleaning staff are working in a specific area of the office. This sign stops employees from getting in the way of cleaning staff, as well as prevents accidents and injuries and the need for repeated cleaning.
#2 Wet Floors Warning
Wet floor is a warning or caution sign that cleaning staff use when they are mopping floors. Also, wet floor signs are placed on or near the spillage to show that the floors are slippery.
Another use of wet floor signs, for outside the office and in open areas, is to warn others that floors are slippery as a result of rain or floor work service. The sign should stay there until the floors are completely dry and safe to walk on.
#3 Descaling in Progress
Coffee machines, kettles and water coolers are common in almost all offices. They need descaling at least once a month. Descaling them involves using certain chemicals or tablets that are not safe if accidentally consumed.
Therefore, “Descaling in Progress” stickers or signs next to the machine during the descaling process inform employees not to use the machine for a while.
#4 Colour Coding Guidelines
Colour coding guidelines for cleaning determine where to use each piece of cleaning equipment. Such guidelines divide office space into different zones, each with a designated colour. Cleaning equipment is also tagged with the corresponding colour to help cleaning staff use the correct equipment in the correct zone.
Colour coding guidelines, like the poster above, should be placed in two locations around the office:
- On the cleaning cupboard door to inform cleaners
- On the notice board or in the kitchen to inform employees.
Colour coding systems for cleaning reduce the risk of cross-contamination and stop the spread of germs and bacteria. You should colour-code cleaning equipment with the corresponding colour or purchase them in a specific colour.
#5 Hand-washing Technique
One of the most important hygiene signs (or stickers) in office toilets and kitchens is the hand-washing technique. It is crucial to provide such guidelines for employees to prevent health issues as a result of poor personal hygiene. Placing this sign is mandatory in public washrooms.
Place this poster/sticker above or near the sink to inform everyone how to wash their hand correctly and prevent infections and the spread of germs and bacteria while saving water.
A similar sign for how to sanitise hands using disinfectants is also recommended during cold seasons or during situations like the COVID-19 Pandemic. Also, if the office doesn’t have a dishwasher or a 24/7 caretaker, you can install proper dishwashing technique stickers in the kitchen to ensure dishes are washed properly with a minimum amount of water.
#6 Flush After Use
People using office or public washroom facilities may forget to flush after they’re done. However, by installing a simple sign like “Flush Toilet after Use”, you can ensure they’ll do it every time.
The best place to install this sign is on the back of the stall door or next to the flush handle. Flushing the toilet immediately after use is crucial in preventing bad odours in the office.
#7 Clean Up After Eating
One of the ways to tell your employees to keep the office clean is to remind them to clean up after they eat. This involves cleaning the table, washing their dishes or loading them in the dishwasher.
You can have a small stand on each table to tell employees to clean up. Placing a sticker near the microwave or sink is also effective in telling employees to clean the eating area, wipe the microwave in case of food splash and wash their dishes after they had their meal.
#8 No Eating Zone
Office spaces that restrict eating in certain areas are generally cleaner and more hygienic. Eating only in specific areas in the office not only prevents pests but also prevents spills and food bits on office carpets or on office machinery & equipment.
You should determine a specific area in the office, often the kitchen, where employees can eat. Then, install “No Eating” signs in office spaces, meeting rooms or any other place where eating is prohibited.
#9 Rubbish Disposal Guide
The last cleaning sign you need in your office is a rubbish disposal sign and guidelines. You should mark the main rubbish bins in the office with the corresponding type of rubbish. They should simply & clearly indicate what type of rubbish should be disposed of in them.
Separating rubbish not only reduces the general waste output by encouraging recycling but also allows the organisation to reach its sustainability goals, create a better company culture and retain more employees in the long term.
Conclusion
Installing clear and effective cleaning and hygiene signs in the office is essential for maintaining a safe, compliant and productive workplace. From wet floor warnings to handwashing instructions and colour coding guidelines, the right signage helps prevent accidents, reduce cross-contamination and support consistent cleaning standards.
These simple yet powerful signs also lower business cleaning costs and reinforce a culture of cleanliness among staff. By investing in high-quality workplace cleaning signage, businesses can improve hygiene, meet health and safety requirements, and create a healthier environment for their employees and clients.
