Skip to content
An Interview with a Cleaning Area Supervisor
– Esayas Tessema
Esayas Tessema is one of Crystal’s cleaning area supervisors. In this interview he answers some of the trending questions regarding the role of a cleaning area supervisor and how you can become one.
Crystal Facilities Management is a family run company that provides commercial cleaning, maintenance and security for a range of sectors across the United Kingdom. Esayas has been working for Crystal for over 4 years. First as a commercial cleaner and then, after two years of hard work and commitment, he was promoted to become a cleaning area supervisor. Read on to get to know more about his story as well as find out the best qualities in a good cleaning area supervisor.
What Is Your Position at Crystal Facilities Management?
Area Supervisor
How Long Have You Been Working With Crystal FM?
I have been working for more than four years now.
How Many Areas Do You Cover?
At the moment I am looking after two University sites in Leeds for regular cleaning. During the weekend, I am managing two other sites to disinfect and sanitise them.
What Position Did You Start, At the Time You First Join the Commercial Cleaning Company?
When I first start, four years ago, I was a cleaner.
How Did You Move Up to Becoming an Area Supervisor?
When I started at the beginning, I join Crystal FM as a cleaner at one of the Universities in Sheffield. I was a cleaner looking after the site properly. I knew the site very well – more than anyone else. I was very passionate about my job and really put in a lot of effort and commitment. Crystal was very kind to promote me and give me the opportunity to become an Area Supervisor.
What Do You Think Are the Most Important Supervisor Skills?
I think one of the most important supervisor skills is to look after the cleaning team and colleagues. A supervisor also needs to make sure that everyone in the team is looking after the site. If any problems rise, the supervisor should ensure that it is immediately sorted. Moreover, any problems should be reported to his top manager so that everyone on site is aware of what is happening.
What Does a Cleaning Supervisor Do? Describe A Day in The Life of a Cleaning Area Supervisor
We are doing everyday our job. At the moment, I am working in a University in Leeds. Crystal is contracted to daily clean communal areas there. Such as the entrance, toilets, disable toilets, common rooms, lounge areas, laundry rooms, as well as gyms, lifts, and the staircases. I must ensure that the cleaners have done their job, haven’t missed any areas in need of attention and all the areas are cleaned properly to a high standard every day.
Every Monday morning, we have our weekly meeting to discuss all the cleaning that needs to be done throughout the week. I emphasis the importance of keeping to a schedule and let the cleaners know that I will be actively going around every day to make sure that cleaning is done to a high standard. If there were any problems last week, for example some areas being missed, I go through all of them to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
I am also responsible about the cleaning supplies and chemicals the cleaners use. I have to regularly audit my supplies and email head office when I am in need of more. This usually is done on a monthly basis.
What Makes A Good Cleaning Area Supervisor, In Your Opinion?
I think the most important trait in a good cleaning area supervisor is definitely to be a good communicator. Good communication is essential with the site manager, the rest of the team, and everyone around.
Supervisors go around different sites so they need to keep record and track of everything that is happening around them to ensure that the areas that are in need of a clean are cleaned properly and on time.
If an area supervisor lacks communication skills with the site manager, this is when complaints come in. So, the important areas to bear in mind for an area supervisor is that:
- They need to take full responsibility for the sites they are supervising.
- They need to make sure that all the cleaners on the site, have done their job properly.
- They need to go around to all the areas the cleaners have said that they have cleaned and look around to ensure that they have been cleaned properly and in good time.
- If cleaners have missed anything, this should not be ignored. They need to contact the cleaner and show them what they have missed. This way
