ISO standards. What are they and why should cleaning companies have them?
Emmeline | Product Specialist
2023-06-28 3 min
ISO standards can make your business more attractive to potential clients, although they are not legally required in the UK. Here is a quick explanation of what ISO is, how it applies to cleaning companies, and which ISO standards are most important for your industry.
What are ISO standards?
ISO standards are international standards developed and published by the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO). They are voluntary but widely recognised and adopted by businesses and organisations internationally.
ISO standards cover a wide range of topics, including;
▪️ Quality management
▪️ Environmental management
▪️ Information security
▪️ Occupational health and safety
They are designed to provide guidance on how to achieve certain objectives best. Examples include;
▪️ Improving quality
▪️ Reducing environmental impact
▪️ Protecting employee health and safety
ISO standards are developed by a consensus process involving experts from around the world. This ensures that the standards are sound and reflect the best practices in the respective field.
Why should cleaning companies be ISO accredited?
▪️ Increased customer confidence. ISO certifications demonstrate to customers that a cleaning company is committed to quality, environmental protection, and occupational health and safety. This can lead to increased customer confidence and business opportunities.
▪️ Improved efficiency. ISO certifications can help cleaning companies improve their efficiency by identifying and eliminating waste and inefficiencies. This can lead to lower costs and improved profitability.
▪️ Enhanced employee morale. ISO certifications can help to improve employee morale by creating a sense of pride and accomplishment. This can lead to increased productivity and a more positive work environment throughout the cleaning company.
What ISO standards should a cleaning company have?
The main 3 ISO certifications that cleaning companies would benefit from include:
▪️ ISO 9001: Quality Management Systems - This standard ensures that a cleaning company has a robust quality management system in place. The company must have a process for identifying and meeting customer needs, as well as for continually improving its services.
▪️ ISO 14001: Environmental Management Systems - This standard helps cleaning companies reduce their environmental impact. It does this by requiring companies to have a system for identifying, assessing, and controlling their environmental impacts.
▪️ ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety - This standard helps cleaning companies protect the health and safety of their employees and customers. It does this by requiring companies to have a system for identifying, assessing, and controlling their occupational health and safety risks.
In addition to these three standards, there are several other ISO standards that cleaning companies may find beneficial. These include:
▪️ ISO 27001: Information Security Management Systems - This standard is designed to protect the cleaning company’s information and security assets. This includes; the company risk assessments and management, asset management, access control, security of information systems, business continuity planning and compliance.
▪️ ISO 13485: Medical Devices - Quality Management Systems - This standard ensures that the cleaning service, and products used, meet the requirements of its customers and applicable regulations. Areas this standard covers include; customer focus, leadership, planning, resource management, process management, management, analysis and improvement.
▪️ ISO 50001: Energy Management Systems - This standard is designed to improve a company's energy performance. Topics this standard covers include; the policy, planning, implementation, operation, monitoring, measurement, review and improvement of the company’s energy use.
The specific ISO certifications that a cleaning company needs will depend on the particular needs of the company and its customers. However, the first 3 standards listed above are a good starting point for any cleaning company that is looking to improve its operations and gain a competitive advantage.
If you are a cleaning company considering getting ISO certified, we recommend contacting a qualified ISO certification body to discuss your specific needs.