Safety is a top priority for your company. Unfortunately, there are many ways you or your employees can become injured in the workplace. Providing the proper safety training to your employees will help to prevent or reduce accidents associated with cleaning.
Following are a few simple precautions you and your employees can abide by to help prevent or reduce accidents from happening.
7 ways to prevent or reduce injuries when cleaning:
- Slips, Trips and Falls.
Make sure you and your employees wear the proper footwear. Athletic shoes or rubber soled shoes are preferred - never allow sandals, open-toed shoes or shoes with slippery soles to be worn on the job.
Watch for cords, mats, and other objects on the floor.
Use wet floor signs, hazard or caution tape at all entrances to areas where wet floors or stairs are being cleaned. Try to avoid walking across wet floors.
- Ergonomic Injuries.
Make sure everyone knows how to lift safely. For example, bend at the knees and not at the waist.
Vary the employees' activities to avoid repetitive motions that can cause injuries. If possible, use equipment that is ergonomically designed like back pack vacuums. Before using a back pack vacuum, adjust it for the proper fit.
Purchase quieter vacuums and floor machines to help reduce noise fatigue which can lower productivity.
- Equipment Accidents.
Train employees on how to use all equipment properly in order to avoid accidents and keep the equipment in good working order.
Floor machines like buffers and carpet cleaning equipment can be hard to handle so give employees plenty of practice. Allow only trained employees to use this type of equipment.
- Climbing Accidents.
Make sure employees use sturdy ladders that are in good condition.
Never stand on chairs, desks, boxes or other objects to reach high up areas.
Never stand on the top rung of the ladder and don't over-reach or lean too far to one side when standing on a ladder.
Never use a step ladder as a straight ladder. Step ladders should be fully open with spreaders locked in place.
- Cuts or Puncture Wounds.
Never push down on trash with your hands or feet to compact it. There may be sharp objects that can cause puncturing.
Never pick up broken glass with your hands - use a broom and dust pan.
When working in dental or medical facilities, be sure to watch for improperly discarded needles in order to avoid being stuck. Always wear gloves if there is an opportunity to become in contact with a needle. Use two pairs of gloves for added protection.
- Respiratory Injuries.
Avoid using aerosols in your cleaning business; it's easier to breathe in the fumes from this type of container. Instead, use pump sprayers and spray a
small amount onto your cleaning cloth rather than spraying large amounts onto the surface you're cleaning.
Avoid feather dusting, which makes the dust airborne and increases the risk of inhalation. Rather, use damp dusting methods with microfiber cloths.
Also avoid sweeping. Instead, vacuum hard floors with a back pack vacuum and then damp mop the floor to keep dust from becoming airborne.
Use a respirator if there is a chance of inhaling harmful dust, fumes, vapors, and/or gases.
Copyright The Janitorial Store. All Rights Reserved
In 2021, thejanitorialstore.com was part of an acquisition by Armando Bello, Ricardo Regalado, John Disselkamp, Michael Dahlke, Saul Marchan, and Juan Padilla. Comrades in the cleaning industry. Their goal is to continue to expand on the resources accessible to its members, provide a personalized roadmap for sustainable growth, and make a positive impact in the cleaning industry. About Us -Vision - Mission - Story
Certified Safety Training for Janitorial Employees
Janitorial safety training must be a priority in your cleaning business. Not only is it your responsibility to keep your employees safe, but paying added Worker's Compensation fees due to your own lack of training just does not make good business sense.
Buy the Training Program and learn how to use it to get Certified!