Clean-up is the part of the job that most of us don’t love, but it’s essential across almost every business. Chemicals, oil, dirt, residue, and grease occur in various industries some more than others. When spills occur, these surfaces become hazardous. That means the right methods of clean-up and disposal aren’t just desirable, they’re essential.
Research has shown that thousands of workers are made ill every year due to contact with hazardous substances. The personal cost to workers is accompanied with financial costs to businesses. The cost of recruiting and training workers to medicines, disability allowances, and environmental maintenance and repair can all add up.
Every business is different and uses different cleaning methods. However, blue roll, industrial wipers, and rags are part of a daily routine for many. But which should your business choose to keep safe, practical routines and maintain practical costs? First, let’s look at the regulations that cleaning routines must adhere to.
Control Of Substances Hazardous To Health (COSHH)
COSHH is a set of regulations that employees have to follow to ensure the control of hazardous substances. They are designed to help employers identify and implement the appropriate controls to protect the health of their staff.
COSHH guidelines recommend considering if harmful substances pose a risk through:
- Contact with the skin
- Breathing in fumes, dust, mist, or gases
- Skin puncture
- Swallowing
- Eye contact
Using the correct control measures is vital, including the method used to clean daily spills. Knowing which solution is best can be challenging. A business needs a clean supply that will do the job properly but is also cost-effective
Industrial Blue Paper Rolls
What Is Blue Roll?
Blue paper roll is a common sight in many companies. These centrefeed rolls are a quick, simple solution to spills and dirt. While they are not highly absorbent, the perforated sheets tear off and soak up anything you don’t want on the surface. Once used they are then disposed of.
Is Blue Roll Recyclable?
Blue tissue roll cannot be recycled. Paper towels are contaminated waste therefore they all have to end up in landfills. Many blue paper rolls are made from previously recycled paper. However, the paper they are made from has been recycled up to seven times already. Therefore, they are made of short fibres which are not high enough quality to be recycled. They are, therefore, classed as contaminated waste and thus should be placed in the waste bin.
Is Industrial Blue Roll The Best Choice?
Although industrial blue roll may seem like an inexpensive way of dealing with industrial spills, the blue roll is not necessarily the best choice. The paper has to be disposed of, so it adds to your company’s waste collection. Residue, oil, or grease may need to be handled differently from standard waste in order to comply with COSHH. Blue roll can often leave lint behind, which isn’t ideal when considering wipers for mechanics or printers. If you are using a lot of blue roll in your company, the financial and environmental costs can be too high.
Industrial Wipers
What Are Industrial Wipers?
Absorbent wipers are reuseable, absorbent cloths specifically designed for industrial use. They’re made from cotton, are highly absorbent, and leave less waste than disposable rags.
Why Use Industrial Wipers?
Industrial cleaning wipers take away the dirt leaving the surface clean and the user able to continue with their work. By choosing 100% cotton or cotton blend wipers you have a solution that is 50% more absorbent and easy to use. When looking at cotton wipers versus blue roll, cotton wipers are dominant due to them being 4x more absorbent and 3x thicker.
Prevent Contamination
Cross-contamination is another property that should be carefully considered. Industrial rags that have colour-coded embroidery are an excellent solution. The colour coding ensures they can be identified to prevent any risk of cross-contamination between industries. Once laundered, these wipers undergo several rounds of metal detection for industries where swarf and metal shards are common. These precautions not only reduce cross-contamination but prevent equipment and machinery damage.
Watch our video today to find out more about Lindström’s industrial wiper rental service.