Safety Training

Start safe. Stay safe.

Complete each assigned video before working independently. If a product, surface, or situation is unfamiliar, stop and call the office before proceeding.

1How to Properly Install Ear Plugs 2Back Injury Prevention 3Shoulder Injury Prevention 4Fire Extinguisher Training 5Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls 6Emergency Eyewash Station 7OSHA Overview 8Safety Data Sheets (SDS) 9Heat Stress Awareness 10Cold Weather Safety

Required product-safety training

Approved Products & Stone Care

Use the supplied product approved for the exact surface. If you cannot identify a surface, finish, coating, or sealer, stop and contact your manager before cleaning.

Etching is permanent surface damage—not dirt. Acid or an incompatible cleaner can remove part of the stone, concrete finish, polish, coating, or sealer. It may require professional refinishing or replacement.

Before cleaning stone or concrete

Identify the surface and its finish or sealer. Do not guess from appearance.
Use only the WCS product approved for that surface.
Follow the product label and the current WCS procedure.
Test a small, hidden area when the label or procedure requires it.
Never try a stronger mixture, homemade solution, or substitute product.

Stain versus etching

A stain changes the color when material is absorbed or leaves residue. An etch changes the surface itself and may look dull, cloudy, lighter, rough, chalky, ringed, or streaked. Sealer does not make a surface acid-proof.

Approved products by surface

Surface or task	Approved approach
Compatible sealed natural-stone countertops	Weiman Granite and Stone 3-in-1, used according to its label. Test before first use.
Stone shower walls and floors	Mild soap and water by default. Use Dawn Powerwash only when the WCS procedure and surface guidance permit it. Rinse and dry.
Water-safe finished floors, including compatible sealed stone	Office-prepared Zep Neutral pH Floor Cleaner, used according to its label and the WCS floor procedure.
Concrete floors	Treat as stone-sensitive. Confirm whether the floor is decorative, polished, coated, or sealed and verify product compatibility first.
Copper sinks, showers, and fixtures	Preserve the patina by default. Follow the property notes and manufacturer care instructions; use only an approved gentle soap with a soft cloth, then rinse and dry completely. Do not use Dawn Powerwash on copper.

Copper care — preserve the living patina

Patina is part of the finish, not dirt. Unless the work order expressly says otherwise, the goal is to clean copper gently without brightening it or changing its color. If the metal, coating, wax, or desired finish is uncertain, stop and contact the office.

Routine copper cleaning

Check the property notes and the fixture manufacturer's care instructions.
Use water and only the approved gentle soap listed for that property.
Wipe gently with a soft microfiber cloth or non-scratch sponge.
Rinse thoroughly and dry completely. Pooled water can create uneven spotting.
Never place a removable copper item in a dishwasher.

Never use for routine patina care

No Dawn Powerwash on copper. Dawn's manufacturer specifically lists copper as a surface to avoid.
No Bar Keepers Friend, copper polish, vinegar, lemon, bleach, lime remover, rust remover, ammonia, or other acidic or alkaline cleaner.
No steel wool, wire brushes, hard scrubbers, abrasive pads, or abrasive powders.
Do not attempt to make one spot brighter or “even out” a color change.

Removing patina is restoration—not routine cleaning

Bar Keepers Friend can brighten compatible bare copper, but it can also remove or change the patina and contains acid and abrasive material. Use it only when the client has specifically requested a bright finish in writing, the manager has approved the work, and the fixture manufacturer permits it. Confirm that the copper is not coated or lacquered, test a hidden area, rub gently with a soft damp cloth or sponge, rinse thoroughly within one minute, and dry completely. Stop for dulling, scratching, staining, discoloration, or any unexpected finish change. The bright copper will naturally begin developing patina again.

Never use or do

No acidic cleaners, vinegar, lemon juice, descalers, or toilet-bowl cleaner on stone or concrete.
No Pine-Sol and no unapproved client-supplied or personally purchased products.
Never mix products or add concentrate to a pre-diluted bottle.
Never use an unlabeled bottle.
Use The Works only inside toilet bowls, according to its label and WCS procedure.

WCS-supplied products only

Approved products match our procedures and SDS library, so WCS can identify what was used if someone reports a sensitivity or reaction. Office staff prepares required dilutions. Fabuloso Professional Lavender is prepared at 1 ounce per gallon. Field employees must not change the dilution.

Stop-work warning signs

Stop immediately for a new dull, cloudy, light, dark, rough, chalky, sticky, streaked, ringed, or discolored area; fizzing or bubbling; or a coating or sealer that lifts, smears, softens, or changes color. Do not scrub harder, add another product, or try to neutralize it.

Protect the area, keep the container and label, notify your manager immediately, and photograph and document the surface, product, time, and change observed.

Knowledge check — 10 questions

What should you do if you cannot identify a stone surface or its sealer?
Which product is approved for compatible sealed natural-stone countertops?
May a field employee make a pre-diluted solution stronger?
What should you do if a cleaning bottle is unlabeled?
Why must employees use only WCS-supplied and approved products?
What is the difference between a stain and an etch?
What should you do if stone or concrete becomes dull, cloudy, rough, or discolored?
What is the default goal when cleaning an aged copper sink or shower?
May Dawn Powerwash be used on copper?
What approvals are required before using a product intended to remove copper patina?

Safety Data Sheets

Open the current manufacturer sheet for the exact product before use whenever you need hazard, first-aid, handling, or storage guidance. These links are private and expire automatically. The printed SDS binder remains available in the Storage closet as a backup.

Loading the approved SDS library…