Cleaners are among the essential, and often unseen, workers who have helped fight the spread of COVID-19. They work in a variety of sectors, including municipalities, educational institutions and schools, malls, grocery stores, hospitals, and private businesses.
A clean and safe work environment is crucial for business continuity, and it is a matter of accessibility and equity for the health of all citizens. The work of cleaners is an integral part of our society. As part of the government’s economic growth strategy, Canada is offering permanent residency to around 90,000 foreign students and workers in jobs as diverse as plumbing and cleaning.
Since COVID-19 has changed how we conduct business in the world, the cleaning industry has also changed in how it hires and trains workers. The Building Service Worker (BSW) course at VCC has revised and upgraded its curriculum to reflect these changes in cleaning standards and its impact on all of us going forward. Our BSW course will examine the following standards that are here to stay:
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More frequent cleaning
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Focus on high touch areas
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COVID-19 disinfectants, cleaners and soaps
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Electrostatic sprayers / foggers
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Enhanced ventilation
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Better PPE practices
- Proper and frequent hand-washing practices
At VCC, we have been providing BSW training for over 30 years. In keeping with the times, the curriculum has adapted to include updated cleaning approaches, sustainable use of chemicals, and enhanced cleaning practices such as antiviral cleaning and disinfection.
If you are interested in learning more about a fulfilling career driven through environmentally sustainable cleaning practices, join us at one of our free, online Building Service Worker information sessions. To sign up, visit vcc.ca/info.
