The document provides instructions and safety guidelines for operating and maintaining various pieces of custodial equipment, including vacuums, floor scrubbers, burnishers, and wet/dry vacs. It emphasizes the importance of proper care, inspection, and training to prevent equipment damage and injuries. Users should clean equipment after each use, check for wear and hazards, and only operate machines they have been trained on.

1. Custodial Equipment
Take care of them,
and they will take
care of you

2. Equipment
 Equipment can cost hundreds of dollars, in some
instances thousands of dollars, and for that
reason is not something that can or will be
replaced on a routine basis.
 The most common reason for equipment failure is
user abuse and the lack of care and
maintenance.
 If your equipment is being used properly and
maintained before and after each use, you can
expect to use your equipment for years without
problems.
 Your equipment is the tool of your profession. You
need to care for and protect what makes your

3. Safety
 Make sure the placement of your equipment or
the electrical cord will not block a path and
become a tripping hazard.
 Keep you equipment cleaned and maintained.
Wipe down after every use, wind cords back in
place, rinse out dirty water etc.
 Make sure cords are in good working order. DO
NOT USE IF FRAYED OR DAMAGED. Report
any maintenance issues to head custodian/plant
manager.
 Make sure equipment nuts and bolts are
tightened. If loose, UN PLUG MACHINE, and
tighten bolts.

4. Safety
 Make sure electrical cords are grounded;
beware of use of electrical equipment in
water.
 Make sure ladders are in good repair.
 Do not use if bolts are loose or if ladder is
bent and does not sit right.
 Do not step on top step.

5. Safety
 Disconnect any equipment when not in use.
Disconnect other electrical devices when using
liquids in area.
 Turn equipment OFF before disconnecting from
electrical socket.
 When using floor machines, place handle in the
lower position before starting.
 Make sure attachments are secure on machine
before use.

6. Safety
 Use machinery only when authorized. Do not use
a machine you have not been trained on.

7. Safety
 Use the right tools for the job. Do not use
something for which it is not intended.

8. Safety
 Handle tools with care. Do not horseplay with
them or throw them around.

9. Vacuums
Operating instructions:
 with the vacuum unplugged
from the power source, turn
vacuum on its side and check
brush assembly for buildup of
lint, hair or materials, remove as
needed. Check belt, replace as
needed.
 Inspect electrical cord for
cracks or damage, also check
plug for grounding prong, if
missing or damaged inform your
supervisor.
 Check dust collecting bag to
insure it has been emptied.
 Make sure that large pieces of
debris and metal objects have

10. Vacuums
 Turn on vacuum and proceed with vacuuming.
After completion of your assignment, unplug the
cord and wind it up loosely.
 DO NOT wind the cord up by wrapping it around
your hand and elbow. DO NOT wind tightly
around cord hooks.
 Empty dust collector bag daily.

11. Vacuums
 Never use a vacuum on wet or damp surfaces.
 Replace worn or frayed power cords
immediately.
 Never allow someone to use vacuum without
proper training.
 When vacuum is running, keep fingers, eyes,
hair, clothing, etc., away from the intake suction
ports or revolving brushes.
 Never leave vacuum running if unattended.

12. Vacuums
 Make sure plug is
properly grounded.
 Always unplug
vacuum from outlet
prior to servicing or
attaching accessories.
 Never yank a cord
from the wall
outlet.
 Always go to the wall
to remove the
plug from the wall.

13. AUTOMATIC SCRUBBER
Auto Scrubbers are a fast and economical way to
scrub large area floors, such as, hallways,
cafeterias, and gymnasiums. This machine
removes the top layers of dirt that accumulates
on the floor surfaces during the day. In one simple
step, the floor may be cleaned, rinsed and
prepared for burnishing, polishing, or immediate
use.

14. AUTOMATIC SCRUBBER
 Sweep and dust mop the floor to remove dirt and debris before
scrubbing. Accumulation of dust and debris on the floor will
reduce cleaning performance.
 Place ―WET FLOOR‖ signs in area.
 Watch the level of liquid in recovery tank. When the vacuum air
flow stops, you must turn off the vacuum motor and empty the
recovery tank.
 Take the machine to an approved
disposal drain and turn off all switches.
 Carefully lower and direct the drain hose into
the drain. When the recovery tank is empty,
rinse with water to get all of the dirt out of
the tank then replace and tighten the drain plug.
 Place the drain hose back into the machine and
secure the plug end into the clamp.
 Do not obstruct the lift
mechanism or brush motors.

15. Safety Instructions:
 Always make sure the main switch and the
vacuum motor switch are off before any
inspections.
 Do not use hot water, over 125 degrees, in the
tank.
 Never restrict the wet float shut off or vacuum
motor; flooding and damage may occur.
 Be careful not to have hands or body parts
between the machine and walls or other objects.
Stay a safe distance away and slow when coming
near solid objects or making sharp turns.

16. Use of the battery charger:
 Open the battery compartment lid. Do not close
during charging operation. Hydrogen gas is
formed when the batteries approach the full
charge stage. This gas is explosive. Avoid any
open flame or electric sparks near the batteries.
To avoid accumulation of gas, be sure that the
batteries receive good air circulation.
 Connect the charger plug into the machine firmly.
 Plug the battery charger into a normal electrical
outlet. Note: The battery charger should be set on
a flat, hard surface to insure that cooling air can
circulate through the bottom louvers.

17. Battery Care:
 Never let the electrolyte level fall below the tops of the
plates. This will damage batteries immediately and
void the warranty.
 Add only distilled water to the cell of the water to
adjust the liquid level. Before charging, add only
enough water to ensure the top of the plates are
covered. After charging, add only enough water to
bring the level to the bottom of the fill tube.
 Do not over fill battery liquid level, this will cause
electrolyte (acid) spill which can cause machine
damage and personal injury. Clean up and dispose of
spills immediately.
 Keep batteries and connections clean. When
necessary clean and rinse with water and apply
battery terminal protector gel.

18. Solution and recovery tanks:
 At the end of the day, empty all liquids from both
the solution and recovery tank and rinse with
clean water to prevent chemical residue buildup.
 Allow to air dry to prevent odors.
 Remove any residue from screen and float ball to
ensure proper operation.
 Check clear lid for air tight seal—leave open to
allow tank to air dry.

19. Pad Drivers or brushes
 Remove pads driver (brush) from machine after
use.
 Rinse with clean water to prevent chemical
residue buildup.
 Allow to air dry on a shelf or rack.

20. Squeegee Assembly
 Remove squeegee from machine.
 Rinse with clean water to prevent chemical
residue buildup.
 Inspect the assembly, linkage and vacuum hose
for wear, damage or obstruction. Repair or
replace as needed.
 Remove debris from squeegee hose and entry to
recovery tank.
 Allow to air dry on a shelf or rack.

21. Side-by-Side (SCRUBBER)
 The purpose of the floor machine is to maintain
hard surface floors surfaces in a number of ways.
It is most often used to scrub or strip tile floors in
our schools but it is also used to polish floors,
abrade hard wood surfaces and scrub concrete.

22. Operating Instructions:
 To attach brush, tilt machine back so that the bottom
of the machine is exposed. Position the brushes’ three
slots over the three lugs of the drive plate.
 Adjust handle height to the correct height for
operator.
 To stat machine, hold the handle with both hands and
depress start lever
 This machine is designed to move side to side. To
move or guide to the right, raise the handle slightly.
The higher the handle is raised, the faster the
machine will move to the right. To move to the left,
lower the handle.
 The electrical cord should be held over your shoulder
to keep the cord out of the way of the machine.
 When storing your machine, always remove the pad
and brush (driver).

23. Safety Instructions
 Never try to attach the brush when the motor is
already engaged.
 Never turn on the machine when the handle is in
the locked upright position.
 Do not leave the machine plugged in while it is
unattended.
 Never plug into a wall socket with wet hands.
 Never plug into a wall socket when the balance
of the cord is wrapped around the handle and
switch lever.

24. Safety Instructions
 Never let an inexperienced person operate the
machine without proper training.
 Never use an extension cord.
 Never put weights on the floor machine to
increase the scrubbing affect.
 Never run the floor machine without a scrub pad
or scrubbing brush.
 Never rest the machine in an upright position with
the pad in place.
 Always unplug the machine before putting the
drive block or scrubbing brush on, or when
working on the machine.

25. ELECTRIC HIGH SPEED
BURNISHER
 The purpose of the high speed burnisher is to
restore the gloss of the finish on the floor. This
burnishing process fills in light scratches and
imperfections in the finish as well s hardens the
top coat of finish making it more durable and long
lasting.

26. Operating Instructions:
 Adjust the handle to a comfortable working
height.
 Make sure a buffing or finishing pad is installed
before operating the machine.
 To start the machine, place both hands firmly on
the handle grips with fingers around both triggers.
Squeeze the triggers toward the hand grip. To
stop machine, simply release triggers.
 When in operation, the machine should be guided
gradually and smoothly without sudden or rough
movements.
 Do not run over power cord.

27. Safety Instructions
 Do not use this machine for purposes other than
buffing.
 The weight of the machine remains on the rear
wheels during operation.
 Do not attempt to guide the machine from left to
right as is done with a normal scrub machine.
Move the machine forward at an even continuous
rate.
 Do not hold the machine running in one spot too
long or damages may result from heat.
 When not in use, loosely wind the power cord
around the cord storage hook on the handle shaft

28. Safety Instructions:
Never start the machine without adjusting the
handle and following starting instructions.

29. Safety Instructions
 Be very cautious of the fact that when the machine starts, handle
must be secure in the operator’s hands to avoid losing control of
the machine.
 Never operate the machine in a wet area and check that the
machine is properly grounded.
 Never by pass the safety lock switch.
 Always disconnect the floor machine from the electrical outlet
before servicing the machine or changing the pads. Replace
damaged or exposed cord.

30. Wet Vac
Standard vacuum cleaners are not meant to be used on liquid spills. While you can
use them to vacuum up dirt, dust and other debris, liquids will often lead to issues
with the vacuum's internal workings.
Wet dry vacuums, however, are designed to be used with both wet and dry items.
Whether you need to clean up food crumbs or spilled liquids, a wet dry vac will do
the job.

31. Wet Vac
 Clean after every use
 –Check hose and hose connectors
 –Check and clean wands and tools
 –Check cords for open wires

32. Wet Vac
If defoamer is not used in the recovery tank to
eliminate foam, the foam from the solution will NOT
lift the float up to close off the vacuum system.
Instead, it will ride over the float and go straight into
the vacuum motor and out the exhaust.
If your unit appears to be leaking from the vacuum
exhaust, it may not be leaking but actually sucking
foam through the vacuum motor due to lack of
defoamer.

33. Do not use,
unless you have been Trained
The awkward
moment when you
realize they were
never trained on
the side-by-side.

34. All the equipment is clean and
maintained