Safety Tips for Janitorial workers
|January 23, 2020
Janitors are really like magicians. We leave our office after a busy day with overflowing garbage, rug spills left unattended and other things for our custodians to manage for us. The next workday, we come into the office and find everything clean and fresh, so we can begin a new day in a spotless office. However, we often don’t realize that there are many dangers that cleaning staff can experience while trying to keep our workplace spotless.
The job of a janitor is physically demanding so it is no surprise that they often experience injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, janitors and cleaners suffer an average of 50,000 injuries and illnesses a year. They have the 16th highest rate of injury of all workers, after employees in industries such as logging, fishing, roofing and farming.
Their work includes mopping floors, moving furniture, sweeping, vacuuming, washing desks and tables, emptying garbage cans and recycling containers, cleaning bathrooms and common areas. Such tasks require pushing, pulling and lifting. They also place the body in awkward positions for long periods of time, leading to a wide variety of injuries. Here are some of the major injuries and how to avoid them:
Lifting and reaching: Lifting must be done the right way so you don’t injure your body. This means bending your knees and being careful not twist or turn your back in any way. Extension tools can alleviate awkward reaching and stretching, and when there is heavy equipment or furniture, a lifting belt should be worn at all times.
Trips and falls: It’s far too easy to take a misstep and go flying, so your cleaning staff should always wear non-slip footwear to avoid slipping or tripping. A constant problem can be floor mats and runners in offices, especially in the winter, when they are wet. Cleaning staff must keep an eye out for various obstructions or hazards in walking areas such as boxes, furniture, computer and other electric cords. They must also be careful to never leave cleaning tools, supplies or trash bags in the walkways. Spills should be cleaned up as right away and hazard signs should be available to block off any wet areas. Ladders and stools should be set up properly and staff should not take any chances if they feel off balance.
Cleaning Chemicals: This is another major cause of many workplace injuries among those in the janitorial industry. According to a study conducted by Cornell University, custodians and janitors may suffer from respiratory tract problems, caused by inhalation of vapors, dust, and particles of fibers. Staff must use their common sense in these situations, such as not using harsh chemicals in poorly ventilated areas. Inhaling toxic chemical is another danger for these staff. To ensure they are safe, they must always wear protective equipment when working with these products.
Your best protections from employee injuries are to have regular safety meetings with your staff. Once a quarter you should review safety protocols and discuss any new or outdated developments.
We should all learn to appreciate the work of our custodians. The world is a better, cleaner place because of them.