Cleanliness and hygiene agent

Cleanliness and hygiene agent
cleaning man/woman, maintenance technician, cleaning technician
The cleaning agent carries out the work necessary for cleaning different spaces: commercial, private premises or sensitive environments (hospitals, food industry, etc.). Its advanced know-how follows the evolution of cleaning techniques and now takes into account other services associated with cleanliness: storage, reception, maintenance of green spaces, etc. Rigorous and autonomous, the cleaning agent can easily find a job in a booming market and progress quickly.


Professional life
A promising market
Faced with the growing number of companies (private and public) subcontracting the cleaning of their premises, cleaning companies are looking for qualified personnel. The cleaning sector is among the biggest recruiters and offers real prospects for the future: 150,000 jobs should be created by 2015 in this sector.
A real and rapid evolution
Within cleaning companies, the cleaning and hygiene agent can quickly climb the ladder. With a few years of experience, he can become responsible for a team of agents... or even create his own cleaning company!
Career development professions
Team leader, site manager, sector manager, quality technician, cleaning agency manager.
Beginner's salary
From the minimum wage.
Working conditions
Hospitals, factories and offices
The cleanliness and hygiene agent operates in: - the hospital and paramedical environment: hospital, clinic, analysis laboratories, home for the elderly or veterinary practice, etc. The agent cleans and disinfects to remove any bacteria likely to spread infections. - the industrial environment: food or electronics industries, pharmaceutical laboratories, space agency, etc. In addition to cleaning and disinfection, the agent can dismantle and reassemble machines to wash them perfectly, according to very precise guidelines. - the tertiary environment: administrative, private, commercial premises, etc. The agent contributes to the image of companies and the well-being of employees by making the premises clean and healthy.
From cleaning to multi-service
Today, the cleaning sector is diversifying its services to customers. For example, by offering maintenance contracts for heating, plumbing, green spaces, etc. usually provided by external service providers.
SKILLS
Rigor and technicality
The agent is punctual, careful and attentive to the quality of his work. It also respects hygiene and safety rules, for handling detergents, for example.
Alone or in a team
The agent works independently or in a team depending on the location and the tasks to be performed. In all cases, if he comes into contact with customers or users, he must demonstrate discretion and friendliness.
Employee or civil servant
The agent is either an employee of a private cleaning company or a civil servant. In the latter case, he then works in educational and research establishments, ministries, local authorities, etc.
More exclusively a woman
Stop the cleaning lady stereotype! Even if the environment is still feminized, men are more and more represented there.
Shifted hours
The agent works early in the morning or late in the evening (sometimes at night) outside of office hours, or even on weekends.
Nature of the work
Organized cleaning
According to specifications, the agent cleans, maintains or repairs different premises (offices, rooms, halls, corridors, staircases, etc.), in different places (administrations, businesses, stations, transport, homes of individuals).
High-performance equipment
Manual or ride-on sweepers (which are driven while sitting on them), steam cleaners (for washing floors and walls), multidirectional polishers (for plastics, marbles and wood), metal washing machines (for washing and degreasing metal particles). Today, the agent is trained to “pilot” high-performance cleaning machines.
Specialized trades
Depending on the places where he works, the cleanliness and hygiene agent can specialize. In hospital cleaning (or retirement home, spa establishment, etc.), in ultra-cleanliness (food industry, laboratories, etc.), in machinist maintenance (offices, shopping centers, museums, amusement parks, etc.), in small maintenance (offices, condominiums, etc.), in green spaces, work at height (for washing windows, etc.).
Training to enter the profession
• the CAP (certificate of professional aptitude) maintenance and hygiene of premises is prepared in 2 years after the 3rd year, full-time at the vocational high school or by apprenticeship. This CAP allows you to become a cleanliness quality agent in tertiary, industrial and commercial environments. • the professional baccalaureate is prepared in 3 years after the 3rd year