Building Operations and Maintenance

Building Operations and Maintenance

Tuesday, October 17 to Friday, October 20, 2023, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Too often recreation staff are hired with an expectation that they clearly understand essential cleaning and housekeeping techniques with most failing to have any real concept on how to properly perform these tasks. What occurs is every staff member approaching the same work with a different concept on how best to complete the work resulting in a waste of chemicals and time as well as damaged fixtures and materials. This course has introduced many practitioners to proven fundamental principles and techniques associated with practical maintenance applications of one of the primary responsibilities in all recreation facilities - cleaning. The outcome of this course significantly improves the relationship between the staff member conducting the cleaning tasks and those who supervise or manage these individuals. The course begins with applying applicable examples of risks and hazards associated with the work and the importance of adopting internal health and safety policies specific to this type of work. Instructors are senior facility managers who understand that all recreation facility frontline staff are unofficial community ambassadors and customer service specialists and will confirm that their actions are vital to creating an enjoyable, safe recreation experience. The focus then shifts to other legislative responsibilities that control public recreation facility upkeep. The participants will learn that their lapse in workplace judgement, or commitment to policy and procedure, can result in legal repercussions that can only be defended through proper recordkeeping. In addition, the reality of poor housekeeping and maintenance activities reducing building life-cycle is explained. Moving forward, participants will be instructed in proven recreation specific housekeeping and maintenance activities. The focus will be placed on cleaning chemistry, proportion management, basic housekeeping tool use and storage, advancing equipment technologies, the importance of quickly controlling bacteria and mold and maintaining original building materials luster and shine.

Topics include:

• Understanding the importance and legal obligation of proper building maintenance and upkeep through scheduled cleaning and maintenance
• Functioning under public scrutiny – working safely and efficiently in a recreation facility includes having a positive appearance and attitude – customer service is an important part of frontline staff’s duties
• Knowing what legislation guides Ontario’s recreation facilities in being obligated to provide safe and healthy buildings
• The risks and hazards associated with public facility housekeeping and maintenance
• The role that proper housekeeping and maintenance plays in worker and public emergency management
• The importance of adopting proven housekeeping and building maintenance activities
• A hands-on demonstration by leading janitorial experts of how to efficiently use and maintain standard housekeeping equipment and what is new in the marketplace

Instructor: Mark Reinert, CRFP, CIT, CPT, Parks & Recreation Facilities Supervisor, Town of Petawawa

This course is worth 28 professional development credits towards recertification of any ORFA professional designation