General considerations

• “You measure a room bsaed on what you find”
• Have a standardized procedure for conducting inspections (to ensure consistency of results)
• Site-specific exceptions / customizations should be agreed upon by all parties involved

Planning each day’s inspections

• Define in advance what would be done (especially for large sites – have a plan for efficient travel between locations)
• Consider previous reports when choosing the exact locations to inspect (e.g. previous areas of concern and/or those not covered in prior inspections)
• If possible, inspect in the daytime (as the spaces would more likely be occupied, plus that it would be easier to see things)

Areas to avoid

• Construction zones, as they would not be a “fair” representation of the cleaning system (reschedule those areas for later)
• Locked rooms or other areas considered off-limits (these should be agreed upon beforehand)
• Vacant areas, as they are likely to be minimally cleaned until they actually become occupied

Common mistakes to avoid

• Expecting the cleaning program to be perfect (or inspections to solve all problems)
• Accepting poor quality by making up excuses (e.g. “they will clean this room later today”)
• Ignoring feedback or being impatient (remember that inspections are meant to improve the system, not find fault in specific individuals)
• Keeping the process a secret (in fact, the cleaners should be involved in the inspection process if possible– so that they can know which aspects can be improved)