Avoiding health hazards is a legal necessity. You are required to provide a safe and healthy work environment for all employees. You want to implement preventative measures that keep your janitorial team safe from illness or injury. From dust-related allergens to chemicals seeping into lungs, the health concerns of cleaning can be serious and costly.
This is your guide to keeping your workers safe and healthy when cleaning. These 9 measures will protect your employees from injury while defending your business against lawsuits and high healthcare costs.
The most common health hazards related to cleaning are:
There are other safety concerns to consider in your commercial space as well. The tips below are specific to hazards while everyday cleaning. There are additional safety measures necessary for specific cleanings, like getting rid of mildew or when sealing and finishing floors.
Learn more about health and safety hazards in the workplace with OSHA.
What measures should you take to protect your employees while cleaning?
1. Use eco-friendly products.
There are a number of non-chemical products on the market that are safe for workers and the environment. When possible, choose eco-friendly products that get the job done safely and effectively.
Check out some of our favorite eco-friendly cleaning products here:
Pro-Tip: A great natural solution for daily cleanings is white vinegar. Use a solution of 1 part water to 1 part white vinegar for a strong, organic cleaner.
Keep the use of stronger chemicals for dire situations, like removing tough stains.
2. Ensure safe handling of chemicals.
Handling chemicals can be dangerous if not approached correctly. Follow these rules when dealing with chemicals:
You should also ensure all staff is familiar with the chemical Material Safety Data Sheet of the chemicals you use. Looking at the MSDS should be the first step in any cleaning procedure. This document gives key information about the chemical product for safe handling to minimize health effects, including:
You should have clean, regulation personal protective equipment (PPE) available for all employees. This includes:
You want to ensure that your workers actually use this equipment. Create a sign-out sheet of PPE so you can see who is using the equipment for which jobs. This ensures there is a level of accountability and responsibility for proper safety. You’ll also want to discuss the importance of safety equipment in trainings.
When using any cleaning products, you want to use a fan to ventilate the area. This helps prevent inhalation of harmful fumes, and it dries the product quickly to avoid moisture-related damage.
Proper ventilation is also necessary when sanding or buffing floors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. You should also have adequate ventilation when cleaning mildew or mold to prevent inhalation of spores.
Wet floors, uneven floors, ladders, broken tile, and other hazards can cause serious falls. Even one misstep can cause strains, breaks, and damage. Preventing slips is crucial to worker safety.
When using a ladder to clean hard-to-reach places:
Floor mats help protect workers and others from slippery floors. For example, if someone is cleaning a large bathroom, they can use floor mats as a “go-to” space where they can stand while waiting for one area of the floor to dry. Think of floor mats as cleaning “safe spaces.”
Learn more about the use of floor mats here.
Train your workers to spot and prevent electrical hazards instantly. Electrical shocks can be a serious and fatal concern.
The better maintained the space, the safer it will be. Consistent cleanings can reduce health and safety concerns.
For example, dust can be a fire and asthma hazard. If you don’t dust a room for two months, it can accumulate and cause a hazard for the cleaner and overall building. If you clean the space weekly, there will be less dust that can cause a hazard or fly into someone’s lungs during cleaning.
Ongoing training is crucial to ensuring compliance with health and safety. We recommend partnering with an online platform that provides safety and cleaning trainings. These offer videos that can teach workers how to clean with chemicals, lift heavy items, store equipment, prevent fire hazards, and more.
You should also create a sheet with industry and company safety rules. Sample regulations could include:
Note: You should install safety signage and offer training in multiple languages. You want your workers to understand health and safety in their native language for full comprehension.
You always want to have safe cleaning products and machines available to your workers. The equipment you supply can encourage safety and health.
Not sure which products and equipment will keep your workers safe while cleaning your space?
Contact Floorcare now for a free consultation.
We will help you put together a list of necessary equipment for your specific needs while ensuring health and safety of your workers and space.