Janitors, Custodians, and Housekeepers Module 2: Physical Hazards

This module: Will demonstrate that janitors, custodians, and housekeepers may complete many different tasks Is one in a series of modules that will discuss hazards janitors, custodians, and housekeepers may encounter Will cover physical hazards and provide tips for prevention –Module 1 will cover chemical hazards from cleaning products –Module 3 will cover exposure to biological hazards –Module 4 will cover musculoskeletal hazards –Module 5 will cover removing graffiti –A stand alone module entitled “Working Alone in Safety” may also be of interest Provide sources of additional information

Janitors may be responsible for a large variety of tasks: Vacuuming Sweeping and Mopping Waxing floors Cleaning bathrooms Dusting furniture Moving furniture Emptying trash Restocking supplies Wiping counters Scrubbing Unstopping drains/ repairing faucets Mowing lawns Removing stains Heating/Air conditioning Ventilation Insect control Maintaining and cleaning doors and windows Delivery/Pick up of items Extra security Weather emergencies Lab spills Helping with disabled cars Minor repairs Painting and carpentry

In a variety of buildings: Hospitals Schools Universities Laboratories Factories Offices Restaurants Stores Nursing Homes Clinics

Physical Hazards Falls from ladders and elevated platforms Wet, slippery floors Falling objects Moving or rotating machinery parts Electrical equipment and wires Hot equipment Sharp objects, scrap metal, broken glass Noise from machinery or cleaning equipment High temperatures

Preventing falls from ladders To reduce the risk of falls from ladders: Use ladders with slip-resistant feet Inspect ladder before climbing Do not use chairs, boxes, or tables as a substitute for a ladder Set ladder on a flat, firm surface Face the ladder when standing on it and when climbing up or down Keep the center of your body between the side rails of the ladder Don’t work from the top two steps of a ladder

Preventing falls from elevations Don’t work on an elevated floor or work location without guardrails in place. Don’t stand on guardrails to gain extra height. Don’t lean over railings.

Preventing slips, trips, and falls: Wet, slippery floors are a major cause of slips, trips, and falls. To help prevent accidents: –Wear safety shoes with non-skid soles –Keep floors free from water or grease –Clean floors regularly –Use slip-resistant waxes on floors –Clean up spills immediately –Put up warning signs around spills or wet floors

Preventing slips, trips, and falls: Use rubber mats in areas where the floors are constantly wet Report to your supervisor any repair needed to non- slip tiling or other non-slip floor products Report to your supervisor any uneven floor surfaces.

Preventing slips, trips, and falls: Keep floors and stairs free of debris and obstructions Make sure mats and carpet are free of holes and bumps Report poor lighting and replace burned out bulbs as soon as possible Report or fix any other tripping hazards immediately

What are the best shoes? To prevent slips and falls use shoes with: Slip-resistant soles and a good tread Tightly tied laces No leather or smooth soles No open-toes No platform or high heels No porous fabric such as canvas

Preventing injuries from falling objects If there is a risk of injury from falling objects on the head or feet, wear a hard hat and/or safety shoes. Foot that was in the crushed boot

Preventing injuries from machinery Become familiar with the hazards associated with particular machines. Do not work with or around machinery in which safeguards have been removed. Report to you supervisor about a damaged or missing safeguard. Machinery with moving or rotating parts must be equiped with guards.

Preventing injuries from machinery Lockout Equipment that starts up unexpectedly, especially during cleanup or maintenance, can cause many serious injuries To reduce the risk of injury, unplug equipment before doing clean-up, maintenance, or repairs. If the equipment is hardwired, follow the specific lockout procedure for that equipment before cleaning it.

Electrical Hazards Electrical hazards can be caused by any of these: Faulty electrical tools and equipment Faulty appliances and wiring Electrical outlets Switch panels Electric transformers

Preventing injuries from electrical equipment Inspect equipment, cords and fittings for damage prior to use Turn equipment OFF before connecting to a power supply and before making any adjustments Make sure cords do not create a tripping hazard When unplugging equipment, pull on the plug not on the cord Keep cords away from heat, water and oil. These can damage the insulation and cause a shock Cord with waterproof seal

Preventing injuries from electrical equipment Do not use electric tools in wet conditions or damp locations Do not clean electric equipment with flammable or toxic solvents Do not carry electrical tools by the power cord Do not tie power cords in knots Do not plug several power cords into one outlet When in doubt, always ask your supervisor

Preventing burns from hot equipment Do not handle or touch hot (or those that may be hot) articles or surfaces with bare hands If needed, wear heat- protective gloves Organize your work area to prevent contact with hot objects and flames Open hot water faucets slowly to avoid splashes Report any faulty equipment to your supervisor

Preventing injuries from sharp objects, scrap metal, broken glass Never pick up sharp objects, scrap metal, broken glass with bare hands. Use dust pan and brush, heavy gloves. Never put sharp objects such as needles, razor blades, or broken glass into waster bins without wrapping and labeling the items carefully to protect those emptying the bins.

Preventing hearing loss from noisy machinery or cleaning equipment Turn off noisy machinery when not in use. Wear hearing protection provide by your employer when operating or working around noisy machinery or equipment.

Preventing illness from working in hot environments Where possible, use ventilation to draw heat and steam away from work areas Isolate or insulate hot equipment, where possible Drink plenty of water Use cool rest areas near the work area for breaks Use cooling fans to increase air speed and sweat evaporation. Where possible, do heaviest work during coolest times of the shift Recognize the signs and symptoms of heat stress

Resources used for this overview: OSHA Hospital eTool eeping.html International Labor Organization - International Hazard Datasheets on Occupation ts/hdo/htm/cleaner.htm Healthy Workplaces: Successful Strategies in the Food Processing Industry. Washington Department of Labor and Industries. Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP) Program. Technical Report Number:

Special thanks to the Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia for the use of photos and text from: Health and Safety for Hospitality Small Business. Resources used for this overview:

Additional Resources WISHA Core Safety Rules (WAC ) (Basic safety and health rules needed by most employers in Washington State) Additional Safety Rules (Fall protection, ladders, machine safety, lockout/tagout, electrical, hearing conservation, etc.) Look for more in-depth modules on many of the topics covered in this module at : ult.asp Workplace Safety and Health

WISHA Consultation Services Safety & Health program review and worksite evaluation By employer invitation only Free Confidential No citations or penalties Letter explains findings Follow-up all serious hazards For additional assistance, you can call one of our consultants. Click below for local L&I office locations: ants.asp

Thank you for taking the time to learn about safety and health and how to prevent injuries and illnesses.