Clean surfaces and good indoor air go hand in hand – conscripts are responsible for cleaning their quarters
During their service, young people starting their military service today, 8 January, will learn cleaning skills that they can also use in civilian life and throughout their lives. During their service, conscripts are responsible for cleaning their quarters. They also clean the common areas of the barracks daily. Clear cleaning instructions have been drawn up to keep the premises comfortable and healthy.
Proper, regular cleaning maintains good indoor air. If surfaces are not cleaned, pollutants remain in the air, which negatively affects indoor air quality. Infectious diseases spread from dirty surfaces as well.
Professional cleaners at the barracks only clean between arrival intakes, i.e. a few times a year. Cleaning done by the conscripts includes wiping contact surfaces and removing stains. Conscripts clean other premises including corridors and WC facilities daily and professional cleaners come in once a week.
The idea was to make cleaning as simple and eco-friendly as possible. This is why detergents have already been ready dispensed onto the textiles. Different surfaces have their own textiles.
“No vacuum cleaners are used, something which sometimes surprises conscripts. Since there are no mats on the floors, they can be easily cleaned using squeegees and floor wipes,” says Päivi Seppänen, Cleaning Manager at Defence Properties Finland’s local Kajaani unit.
TOP 3 on the cleaning checklist for conscripts:
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- Only clean equipment and the right methods result in clean, healthy conscript service conditions.
- Contact surfaces are always cleaned, even if they don’t look dirty – whether it’s the door handle, light switch, or game console controls in the break room.
- In addition to the general barracks cleanliness and safety, remember to wash your own hands. This will ensure that you don’t miss holidays and return home healthy.
Competent cleaning means better indoor air
Defence Properties Finland has produced e-learning material on indoor air matters and cleaning for the use of the Finnish Defence Forces. This material is used in conscript education. In addition, in some garrisons, units have ordered cleaning lessons from Defence Properties Finland for all recruits or group leaders.
Kainuu Brigade added cleaning lessons to the training programme of all conscripts. The lessons are given by local unit Cleaning Manager Päivi Seppänen, who to date has managed to educate more than 3,000 conscripts in the secrets of proper cleaning. The experiences are good.
“The cleanliness of the barracks has improved, and we receive fewer reports related to indoor air. In the past, we received reports of, for example, “mould spots”, which were actually dirt, which is removed by cleaning. In my experience, young people have a good attitude towards cleaning. During the lessons, we go through the cleaning instructions and responsibilities in detail so that the information side is also sorted out,” Seppänen says.
Karelia Air Wing, Utti Jaeger Regiment, Jaeger Brigade and Lapland Air Wing, for example, also hold cleaning lessons for all recruits. The training given by a cleaning professional is positively reflected in the premises: cleaning can be done using the right tools and methods, and cooperation between conscripts and cleaners works well.
Barracks structures and ventilation are regularly inspected
Defence Properties Finland is an unincorporated state enterprise and part of Senate Group. Since the beginning of 2021, Defence Properties Finland has been responsible for the properties of the Finnish Defence Administration properties, their maintenance and construction management, and the organisation of real estate services in all security situations.
Defence Properties Finland ensures high-quality indoor conditions through proactive indoor air activities, such as regular building inspections, indoor air surveys and maintenance measures. Defence Properties Finland’s personnel also carry out continuous observations regarding issues affecting indoor air quality.
Finnish Defence Forces’ personnel and conscripts are encouraged to report their indoor air observations with a low threshold. All reports lead to indoor air quality inspections and necessary corrective measures to improve indoor air quality.
In addition, the extensive barracks repair programme is progressing. Defence Properties Finland aims to have all the nation’s barracks renovated once in the 2000s by the end of this decade.
