Making a clean job of it

Professionals are needed in order to clean and disinfect spaces and facilities such as office buildings, industrial plants, nursery schools, schools, hospitals, old people’s homes or care institutions. Industrial cleaners are trained to carry out this extensive work. They are able to recognise different types of contamination and know what procedures need to be used to remedy the situation in each case. They deploy appropriate equipment and stringent safety measures to clean special areas such as façades.

Acting on behalf of the Federal Government and working in conjunction with the federal ministries responsible, the social partners and experts from the field of company practice, the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) has now modernised the existing training in the occupation of industrial cleaner. The updated training regulations enter into force on 1 August 2019.

The revision of the training occupation, which is of a duration of three and a half years, addresses technical, economic and organisational changes and developments that have taken place in craft trade practices in the field of industrial cleaning. Dimensions for the calculation of areas and costs are, for example, nowadays determined by using digitalised tools. Sustainability is a further reason for the modernisation. Industrial cleaners need to be familiar with alternative methods if they are to contribute towards reducing environmental impacts. This includes the preparation and maintenance of surfaces that have become damaged as a result of pollution. The new training regulations have also been drawn up in a competence-based way and are structured in accordance with work and business processes typical to the occupation.

In 2018, 885 young people concluded a new training contract in the occupation of industrial cleaner. The prospects of obtaining permanent employment on completion of training are good. A further master craftsman qualification in industrial cleaning can be pursued following the final examination.

The updated training regulations and the aligned skeleton curriculum, which has been developed by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs for the school-based part of the dual vocational education and training, replace the existing regulations from 1999 as of 1 August 2019.

In order to support professional training practice, BIBB is currently consulting with occupational experts to develop an implementation guide as part of the “Structuring Training” series of publications.

Contact partner: Daniel Schreiber; email: schreiber@bibb.de

Specimen copy requested if printed.