Janitorial occupations may seem like relatively safe careers, yet inherent risks in this field can injure employees and cost employers a lot of time and money.
A proactive approach to janitorial workplace safety keeps employees on the job, prevents OSHA fines, and lowers workers’ compensation costs. That’s important because according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21,100 workers needed to take time off work in the United States because of a nonfatal injury or illness in 2020.
To prevent your business from adding to the list of injured workers, we’re outlining seven strategies for how to bolster janitorial workplace safety.
1. Conduct a Safety Orientation and Regular Safety Sessions
A good first step in promoting a culture of janitorial workplace safety is to establish a safety orientation program. Such a program informs new employees of the risks they will face and educates them about how to keep themselves, their coworkers, and others safe.
An annual safety session is also valuable for current employees as a refresher for best practices for safety. You can take a day and do it all at once or spread sessions out over time.
Some topics to include in your training are:
- Chemical hazards
- Electrical hazards
- Ergonomic hazards
- Work injuries
- Robberies and assaults
- Slips and falls
- Planning for emergencies
The UCLA Labor Occupational Safety & Health Program offers an online safety training program, specifically for the janitorial field. The organization also puts out an informative handout called Ergonomics and Cumulative Trauma Injuries.
A few other organizations also offer workplace safety training materials:
- OSHA provides safety training, safety training materials, and articles on safety.
- National Safety Council offers online, virtual, and in-person safety classes.
- American Safety Council offers topic-specific certificate courses including fall protection and first aid.
A safety program is a good initiative that enables your company to start a dialogue about safety concerns and encourages employees to keep talking about safety matters. To allow the employees to get the most from your training, invite employees to speak truthfully about their safety concerns and keep groups small to allow for maximum participation.
2. Safe Handling of Chemicals
Cleaning supplies contain toxic chemicals that can be hazardous to employees who use them routinely.
The Texas Department of Insurance offers the following five tips for using chemicals safely:
- Learn the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS).
Familiarize yourself and your employees with HCS which is a classification and labeling system that classifies chemicals into health and physical hazards.
- Educate employees about chemical hazards.
Train employees about the chemicals they work with and those that may be within their work areas before they start working and whenever a new hazard exists. Be sure to speak in a language they understand and use terms they’re familiar with.
Employees need to know:
- How to identify chemical hazards
- How to correctly dilute chemicals
- What protections they need
- Whom to contact if they have a problem
- Information on the labels
- How to access safety data sheets
Employees should also be aware that even inhaling chemical fumes can cause them to become ill or acquire more serious health problems.
- Provide Safety Data Sheets (SDSs).
Chemical manufacturers and distributors provide SDSs, and employers should share them with employees. The documents outline the hazards in ana 16-section format that’s easy to read.
- Label all containers of hazardous chemicals.
Be sure that all containers of hazardous chemicals have clear labels that show general information about the chemicals and their hazards. Make sure employees understand signal words (danger, caution, warning, etc.) and pictograms. You may want to share OSHA’s Quick Card with employees which show common hazard pictograms.
- Create a written hazard communication policy.
A written hazard communication policy ensures employees know how to communicate information about hazards to others and how to notify superiors of new hazards. The policy should list all hazards in various workspaces. A standard hazard policy also serves as a reference if there are any misunderstandings on how to handle things.
3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Most janitorial jobs will require some type of personal protective equipment (PPE). The proper PPE will help to prevent OSHA violations.
Some types of PPE for janitorial workers are:
- Gloves
- Eye protection
- Masks
- Hard hat
- Protective coveralls
- Respirators
Employers should provide the proper equipment for employees for the task at hand and make sure they’re using it properly.
4. Handling Hazardous Wastes
Hazardous wastes come in several forms. Janitors and cleaners may handle a variety of different types of waste including:
- Ignitable waste
- Corrosive waste
- Reactive waste
- Toxic waste
- Bodily fluid waste
Janitors and cleaning personnel who work in hospitals or medical facilities may come into contact with blood or bodily fluids. OSHA requires such workers should attend training on the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard.
Some resources for Bloodborne Pathogen Standard training are:
Employers who fail to provide workers with the proper hazardous waste training may receive OSHA citations. Employers should also check with the proper state department to be sure they’re following all laws and regulations in addition to OSHA’s standards.
5. Equipment Training
Work mishaps commonly happen because of faulty equipment or employees who don’t know how to use equipment or machines properly.
Clean and inspect industrial vacuum cleaners, floor buffers, rotary cleaners, and other equipment to ensure it’s in proper working order to prevent mechanical accidents.
Give employees hands-on instruction on how to operate industrial cleaning equipment safely.
Ensure that janitors and window cleaners use secure scaffolding and insure them with the best window cleaning insurance.
Make sure employees know what to do and whom to contact if they’re having trouble with the equipment.
6. Avoiding Risks of Slips, Trips, and Falls
Friction, momentum, and gravity all play a role in slips, trips, and falls in the workplace. When a worker’s foot hits an object or a slip throws them off balance, they may not be able to stop the momentum.
Janitorial employees are at risk of falling on the same level or they can fall from one level to another. Slips and trips can cause employees to brace themselves from falling which can overexert muscles causing serious injury.
Here are some tips for avoiding slips, trips, and falls:
- Require appropriate footwear for the task (safety shoes, non-slip shoes, steel-toed shoes, work boots, rain or snow boots, etc.)
- Clean up grease and spills immediately
- Carry supplies in a way employees can see where they are going
- Light work areas well so employees can spot trip hazards
- Declutter work areas and store materials orderly
- Arrange furniture to provide clear walkways
- Secure railings and handrails on stairs
The CDC has valuable resources on slips, trips, and falls. While you do your best to prevent falling in the workplace, it’s always a good idea to have a workplace emergency plan in place.
7. Emergency Preparedness
A workplace emergency may affect customers or the public in addition to employees. A bad accident can cause damage in an area or environmental damage.
Here are some strategies to include in an emergency preparedness plan:
- Establish protocols for what employees should do if the power or lights go out
- Employees should know where fire extinguishers are and know how to use them
- Employees should learn the most viable escape route in each work areas
- Establish protocols for safely cleaning up chemical spills (using PPE, putting up barricades, reviewing SDSs)
- Require employees to report slips and trips even if they don’t claim to have an injury
- Impress upon employees the importance of calling 911 for a life-threatening injury (also incidents of choking, heart attack, or other serious health condition)
OSHA also provides valuable information on emergency preparedness and response.
Workers’ Compensation Coverage Minimizes the Impact of Janitorial Hazards
Taking appropriate steps to improve janitorial workplace safety will reduce the chance of workers’ injuries. When accidents happen, a workers’ compensation policy will pay for your employees’ lost wages and medical expenses which will help them get back on their feet and back to work.
To learn more about how a worker’s compensation policy or specialized janitorial services insurance can protect your business, contact one of our licensed agents at NIP Group at (866) 918-8134 today.