Colour Coding Standards for Cleaning Explained [Free Poster]
Colour coding is a system that defines how and where to use a specific item. In the cleaning industry, there is a comprehensive colour-coding system that helps cleaners use the correct equipment at the correct zone to prevent the risks of cross-contamination.
In this article, we will dive deep into the colour-coding system used widely by office cleaning companies and their cleaners.
What is Colour Coding in Cleaning?
Colour coding is a system of determining the usage of equipment, isolating particular areas or defining the risk within an area on the premises. Colour coding systems have been used widely across industries. Each industry uses specific colours to correspond with relevant items or areas.
In the past, colour coding for cleaning was mostly used by large companies. In the late 1990s, BICSc (The British Institute of Cleaning Science) introduced a bespoke colour coding system and guidelines for cleaning. This system is now widely used by several commercial cleaning companies and their clients throughout the UK.
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We’ll email the poster immediately so you can print it, frame it and stick it on the wall so everyone will know your business follows the latest colour coding regulations for cleaning to prevent the adverse consequences of cross-contamination.
Purpose of Colour Coding in Cleaning
A colour coding system in the cleaning industry has two main purposes:
- To define how and where to use specific items.
- To prevent the risk of contamination during cleaning by designating cleaning equipment for specific areas.
Importance of Colour Coding in Cleaning
Cross-contamination of cleaning equipment can lead to many adverse consequences, but colour coding systems prevent this risk.
For example, colour coding will prevent mistakes like cleaning office floors using mops designated for toilets or cleaning kitchen counters with a cloth coded only for office furniture.
Preventing cross-contamination stops the spread of viruses and bacteria that cause allergies, diseases and infections. Therefore, the correct implementation and use of colour coding systems protects those present in the premises (like office employees, students in schools or retail shop customers) from several health issues resulting from cross-contamination.
Benefits of Colour Coding Cleaning Equipment
Many industries and sectors, including corporate offices, the hospitality sector, the healthcare sector, educational facilities, industrial plants and retail shops, benefit from implementing colour coding systems for cleaning:
- Helping the cleaning process to be organised and, thus, faster.
- Minimising or eliminating the risk of cross-contamination in the workplace.
- Stopping the spread of bacteria, viruses and diseases.
- Making the environment healthier for employees and clients or customers.
- Allowing anyone to distinguish the risk associated with specific areas.
- Helping brand image by showing how the business cares about health and safety
Colour-Code Guidelines
Although colour coding the cleaning equipment is not mandatory, it is beneficial for businesses to implement it. If you have outsourced your cleaning services, chances are colour coding is already in use in your premises.
However, if you’re looking to implement it internally, you can refer to the colour code system and guidelines introduced by BICSc.
This system uses simple and easily distinguishable colours to show the associated risk in colour-coded areas and their corresponding cleaning equipment.
Read More: Cleaning Signs & Stickers for Office Space
Code RED
Red shows high-risk areas where only cleaning equipment tagged in red should be used for cleaning. Red areas may include the following:
- Toilets
- Washrooms
- Showers
Code GREEN
Green is for medium-risk areas, but still high enough to take measures to prevent the risks of cross-contamination. Green areas may include the following:
- Kitchen
- Breakroom
- Cafeteria
- Food Stations
Code BLUE
Blue-coloured areas are generally low-risk. They may include the following areas:
- Office Space
- Meeting Room
- Hallways
- Reception Area
- Waiting Room
- Lobby
- Classroom
- Other areas with a similar purpose.
Code YELLOW
Yellow is the colour specific for the healthcare sector, medical centres, hospitals and clinical establishments.
This is the only colour in BICSc that is mandatory for medical facilities and, generally, the healthcare sector.
Yellow indicates that the risk of cross-contamination is high, and it is extremely important to prevent or eliminate the risk of cross-contamination.
Therefore, the area should be sanitised with special equipment and cleaning supplies on a regular basis.
Derivations of RED & WHITE
BICSc guidelines also assigned any derivations of red and white (striped or chequered in red and white or other shares of red) for cleaning equipment specific for sanitary appliances. This can be toilets, urinals, sinks and other appliances in washrooms.
This takes measures for preventing the risk of cross-contamination further by separating the equipment to clean the washroom sanitary appliances from equipment for cleaning the toilet floor and stall doors.
Bespoke Colour Coding Systems
Using colour-coding systems, with the exception of the healthcare sector, is not a mandatory regulation. This is a chance for larger organisations to implement bespoke colour-coding guidelines and train employees and staff to recognise them.
If you want to create a colour coding system for your business or want to improve upon the BICSc guidelines, just remember to assign colours that are simple, distinguishable and show the associated risk of contamination for the area they are being used in.
Using The Colour-Code System
The use of a colour-code system in the workplace is fairly straightforward:
- First, recognise the area,
- Next, categorise it based on risk
- And finally, assign the corresponding colour. This can be painting them red, using coloured stickers or any other way that the colour is visible to everyone.
After tagging the areas, tag cleaning equipment to assign them to their designated areas.
In general, colour coding can be applied to three groups:
- Zones or Areas inside the premises.
- Schematics or building layout maps.
- Cleaning equipment
1. Zones / Areas
You can use tags, signs, tapes or any other form of visible signage that shows the associated cross-contamination risk of that area or zone inside a building like an office area, kitchen, food station, toilets and showers.
2. Schematics & Layout Maps
You can colour each area on the building layout (or schematic), print it and hang it on the wall. Therefore, you can easily show the risk of cross-contamination for each area to employees and cleaning staff.
3. Cleaning Equipment
Implementing colour-coding systems without tagging cleaning equipment is pointless. Therefore, tag cleaning equipment with corresponding colours or buy already-coloured equipment. Here’s a list of equipment you should tag based on colour coding systems:
- Mops and mop buckets
- Cleaning cloth
- Scrubber
- Sponges
- Floor squeegees
- Toilet brush
- Brooms and dustpans
- Cleaning gloves and aprons
- Cleaning supply containers
- Cleaning cupboard or shelf
Considering Colour Blind Individuals
BICSc also considered colour-blind individuals when introducing standard colour-coding guidelines. To ensure they can understand the risks associated with different areas, assign a number to each colour. The best practice is to order the numbers from 1 to 4 (or more), with 1 displaying the lowest risk.
Tips on Using Colour Coding in Cleaning
If you want to use colour coding more efficiently in your workspace, follow these tips:
#1 Make it Easy to Remember
If you want to create a bespoke colour-coding system for your organisation or add more options to your current colour-coding system, choose simple and distinguishable colours. Also, try to assign colours that psychologically demonstrate the level of risk associated with the area.
#2 Train Cleaning Staff on Colour Coding
Just like using PPEs for cleaning, provide employees and cleaning staff with training for understanding and using the colour-coding system. Also, hang posters on office walls to make sure everyone is notified about the meaning of each colour and why following it improvse health and safety around the workplace.
#3 Store Cleaning Equipment Properly
Colour coding isn’t only for cleaning tasks. It is also useful when storing cleaning equipment and janitorial supplies. Make sure sections or shelves in the cleaning cupboard are clearly colour-coded to reduce the risk of cross-contamination when the equipment is stored.
Get a Colour Coding Poster Today [FREE]Conclusion
Colour coding in cleaning is a simple yet highly effective method for maintaining hygiene and preventing cross-contamination in various environments. By assigning specific colours to different cleaning areas and equipment, businesses can create a structured and efficient cleaning system that improves health and safety compliance.
The BICSc guidelines provide a widely recognised standard, helping organisations implement colour coding with clarity and consistency. While not mandatory, except for the healthcare sector, implementing a colour coding system can improve efficiency, promote compliance with hygiene standards and protect those present in the space from potential health risks.
Additionally, considering colour-blind individuals by assigning a number to each colour ensures inclusivity. Whether for corporate offices, schools, healthcare facilities or retail spaces, implementing a standard colour-coded system benefits both cleaning staff and the employees. By training employees, using visible signage and proper storage of cleaning equipment, businesses can maximise the effectiveness of their cleaning protocols and foster a safer and healthier environment for everyone.
