Pressure Washing & Compliance for Commercial Buildings in Los Angeles: What Property Managers Must Know

• Neglected exterior surfaces put your company at risk for liability.
• Regular pressure washing from a trusted cleaning company keeps your business compliant and reduces the chances of slips and falls.
• Recurring maintenance records are important during insurance reviews.

When a slip and fall incident happens outside your commercial building, you may be held liable for personal injury. If exterior maintenance is pushed to the back burner, your risk will steadily increase. Situations like algae growing in shaded walkways, oil and grease runoff at loading docks seeping onto walkways, and dirt and pollen making sidewalks slippery after a rainfall are common causes of fall injuries.

What many property managers fail to realize is that proper documentation and regular pressure washing for commercial buildings in Los Angeles is absolutely key to reducing your liability. If your business is in an area with plenty of pedestrian foot traffic, you need to hear what the rest of this article has to say.

Not All Exterior Cleaning is Compliant Cleaning

You can slap a pressure washing machine into anyone’s hands, but that doesn’t mean the job will get done right. True professionals are trained in commercial pressure washing compliance. They use EPA-approved chemicals, environmental wash water controls, and manage runoff so it doesn’t harm the environment.

When it comes to delicate surfaces, professionals use the correct amount of pressure and the appropriate nozzle to avoid damaging surfaces. When choosing a Los Angeles cleaning company for pressure washing your commercial building, be sure to contract with a licensed and compliant cleaning company, like Golden State Maintenance.

High-Risk Areas That Cause Incidents

Let’s first learn which areas cause the most slip-and-fall injuries so you can be sure your Los Angeles commercial building pressure washing company is covering the correct areas. Here is a list of the exterior areas and what other factors can cause incidents:

• Entryways - When moisture and foot traffic combine with dust, dirt, and organic matter, it makes surfaces lose traction.
• Stairs and ramps - It doesn’t take much algae or mildew for these surfaces to become slick. Frequent cleaning is essential in these areas.
• Loading docks - Oil and grease runoff present slip hazards and environmental safety issues. Pallet debris and blocked drains can put workers at risk for tripping.
• Dumpsters - Grease runoff is also an issue with dumpsters. Combined with bacterial growth from organic matter, dumpsters can easily become a health hazard and a slick slip-and-fall zone.
• Parking lots and sidewalks - Oil drips from vehicles make parking lots slick. Built-up dirt masks cracks that need repair and can lead to trip hazards.

When proper cleaning is ignored, all of these issues become exterior safety hazards that your company can be held liable for.

Liability Slowly Builds

The growth of algae, mildew, bacteria, and the buildup of oil, grime, and organic matter happen slowly. You likely won’t realize the hazards that have been apparent for weeks until an incident is reported. This is why it is important to contract with a Los Angeles commercial building pressure washing company like Golden State Maintenance, which will thoroughly inspect the exterior areas and perform regular cleaning and sidewalk safety washing as needed.

How Often is Pressure Washing Needed?

The frequency your commercial building in Los Angeles will need pressure washing will vary based on the architecture of your exterior features and the amount of foot traffic you see. You may also need more frequent commercial pressure washing for compliance based on nearby waterways.

Here are some examples of common industries and their exterior cleaning needs:

• Retail businesses with high foot traffic often need monthly or bi-monthly parking structure washing and pressure washing at entrances and walkways.
• Restaurants may need more frequent exterior cleaning due to the grease produced.
• Industrial and manufacturing facilities may need quarterly services that focus on loading dock cleaning and heavy equipment washing.
• Office buildings typically need commercial pressure washing for compliance with the changing of the seasons. Summer humidity accelerates algae growth, fall leaves create a layer of slick organic matter, spring brings layers of pollen, and winter can bring plenty of rain, which makes dirt and mud easier to track from place to place.

Maintain Clear Records

As we mentioned earlier, cleaning will reduce your risk of slips and falls, and clear documentation of commercial building pressure washing in Los Angeles will reduce liability and complications of a case.

Your documentation should clearly show the following:

• Dates of the services performed.
• A list of the exterior areas that were cleaned.
• Before-and-after pictures.
• Clear definitions of the scope of work that was performed.
• Evidence of recurring service scheduling.

When an incident occurs, clear documentation of recurring commercial building pressure washing in Los Angeles fortifies your position as a responsible property manager who doesn’t ignore the exterior hazards at your business.

Let Golden State Maintenance help you maintain compliance with our commercial building pressure washing services for West Los Angeles. Our team is fully trained in the proper techniques and uses EPA-approved cleaning agents. We’ll get the job done right and boost your curb appeal.

Contact Golden State Maintenance today to schedule a free consultation.

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