Healthcare housekeeping manpower
When determining the necessary manpower for housekeeping tasks in a hospital, it's vital to consider the total square footage of all areas to be cleaned, encompassing outpatient clinics, diagnostics, patient rooms, operating theaters, ICUs, as well as common areas internally (such as corridors) and externally (like parking areas, roads, lobby, rooftop, etc.). The number of toilets and elevators requiring cleaning should also be factored in.
Moreover, the frequency of cleaning significantly affects the required manpower. Increasing cleaning frequency can lead to a variation of 10 to 20% in required manpower. Understanding the area coverage a person can clean is crucial for planning. For instance, one housekeeping staff member can cover approximately 1500 to 2000 square feet per hour in critical areas, while in common areas, coverage may range from 2500 to 4000 square feet per person per hour.
Considering the strenuous nature of housekeeping work, it's unrealistic to expect staff to operate at full capacity for a full 8-hour shift. The maximum output within an 8-hour shift shall be around 6 hours. Manpower requirements are usually calculated for 24/7 coverage, aggregating across all three shifts. Additionally, it's prudent to account for 20% to 25% leave coverage in the manpower calculation.
References providing useful information on housekeeping manpower thumb rules include Kayakalp and the WHO Manual from December 2020.
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