Thicker pads cut costs and protect workers
March 1st 2006

Thicker floor pads mean increased productivity, cost savings and operator comfort. Noonans Services has cut the number of pads it uses by up to 75 per cent with 3M's new Scotch-Brite plus pads - and reduced the risk of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)

Contract cleaning companies whose customers include hospitals, schools, retail outlets and other public access buildings often experience common problems with floor pads when using floorcleaning and buffing machinery. Often, the quality, quantity and antivibration properties of floor pads can determine the time required to produce the necessary finish of a floor, and therefore the profitability of a contract. 3M, one of the UK's leading manufacturers and suppliers of cleaning solutions, has used innovative 3M technology to improve its range of Scotch-Brite floor pads. The new, 10% thicker design - Scotch- Brite plus pad - offers increased comfort, productivity and cost savings: three major factors that have already been noted by one of Ireland's biggest contract cleaning companies; Noonans Services Ltd.

Noonans is responsible for cleaning and maintaining hygiene services in a number of hospitals in Ireland. Before the introduction of the new Scotch-Brite plus floor pads, the company was typically using almost four boxes of floor pads on a daily basis to clean a multitude of corridors and wards up to three times a day. Now, using new Scotch- Brite plus floor pads, typically up to 75% fewer pads are required for some applications.

Tony Gibbons from Noonans Services Ltd explains, "We were using the red, blue and white 3M standard Scotch-Brite floor pads previously.

Although the quality of the brand was very high in comparison with other brands on the market, we found that when manoeuvring the rotary machines over the brass floor plates on hospital floors, sometimes the pads would tear. This would mean that the machine had to be turned off, the torn pad had to be removed and a new one applied. On average, we were using two floor pads per corridor.

Alternatively, the floor plates would be avoided, leaving a patch of floor around the plate uncleaned and unpolished, so the cleaner would have to return to each patch to clean and polish it manually. Obviously both of these options are time consuming, so we were delighted when 3M introduced the new, thicker Scotch-Brite plus floor pads.

The new pads hold more dirt, conform to the floor better, and therefore clean and shine more efficiently. Being thicker, they are much more durable, so they can withstand being manoeuvred over the brass floor plates. Now, instead of averaging two pads per corridor, we are finding that one pad will suffice for two corridors, massively increasing productivity and cost savings."

Good vibrations

The softer and thicker cushioning of the Scotch-Brite plus floor pad not only enables easier achievement of the removal of marks and dirt and a high gloss shine, it affords the rotary machinery operator more comfort by reducing vibration. In July 2005 a new Directive came into force, aiming to tighten control over levels of vibration to which workers are exposed and therefore reduce the potential of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).

Andy Fernley, Technical Specialist in 3M's Building and Commercial Services, explains, "Worryingly, the Health and Safety Executive and the Medical Research Council estimate that potentially 4.9 million workers are exposed to hand arm vibration (HAVS), 1 million are exposed to vibration levels above the current HSE action limit and 300,000 workers in the UK exhibit symptoms of vibration white finger (VWF) - the most common condition of HAVS which is caused by damage to the blood vessels feeding the fingers. Depending on several factors including exposure levels and ambient temperature, damage can be caused when working with hand-held power tools or hand-guided machinery such as some commercial rotary floor cleaning machinery, or when you are holding materials that are being processed by vibrating machinery.

Regular exposure to vibrating equipment can cause these damaged blood vessels to go into spasm causing a variety of symptoms, including whiteness in the fingers, pain, tingling, numbness, reduced strength and reduced ability to perform delicate handling operations. "

"3M has invested considerable resources to reduce levels of vibration across its range of abrasive products and other products used in conjunction with vibrating machinery in the workplace. When developing the Scotch-Brite plus product range, it was very important to 3M not only to increase productivity and value, but also to help increase safety levels of the user in terms of exposure to the risk of HAVS. Recently, in two tests covering different machine speeds with multiple data points and across varying operations, the vibration level of the blue Scotch-Brite plus floor pad (used for the removal of stubborn marks and dirt) was 11.6% lower than the conventional Scotch-Brite floor pad, and 22.8% lower than another leading brand.

The vibration level of the red Scotch-Brite plus floor pad (used for spray cleaning and buffing) was 20% lower than the conventional Scotch- Brite floor pad and 28.1% lower than another leading brand."

Tony Gibbens adds, "Because the thickness of the new Scotch-Brite plus floor pad helps to reduce the vibration levels caused by the rotary machine, it increases the time a user is permitted to safely use the machine without experiencing discomfort or exposure to the risk of HAVS. Workers have said that since the introduction of the new pads, when scrubbing floors, there is a noticeable reduction in vibration."

Scotch-Brite plus floor pads are available in a range of sizes and functionality for rotary machines and auto scrubber driers. For more information, call the number below or use the reader enquiry system.

More articles from 3M c/o The McOnie Agency: