Transcript Janitors, Custodians, and Housekeepers Module 4: Musculoskeletal Hazards

Janitors, Custodians, and Housekeepers
Module 4:
Musculoskeletal 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 musculoskeletal hazards and provide tips for
prevention
– Module 1 will cover chemical hazards from cleaning
products
– Module 2 will cover physical hazards
– Module 3 will cover exposure to biological 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 do a variety of tasks:
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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
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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
Janitors work in a variety of buildings:
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Hospitals
Schools
Universities
Laboratories
Factories
Offices
Restaurants
• Stores
• Nursing Homes
• Clinics
Musculoskeletal and repetitive motion
injuries can occur from:
• Overexertion (Heavy or awkward lifting)
• Awkward postures (bent back, kneeling)
• Repetitive movements (ex. Scrubbing)
Preventing musculoskeletal injuries
The following slides will provide ideas for
preventing injuries when doing the following:
•Moving and storing items
•Filling and emptying liquids from containers
•Using hand tools
•Handling laundry, trash, and other bags
•Cleaning small items in large sinks
•Loading or unloading laundry
•Wet cleaning and mopping
•Vacuuming or buffing
•General cleaning
Use carts to store and transfer supplies
• When moving cleaning supplies, equipment, and
maintenance tools use carts.
• Carts make it easier and quicker to access and
store items.
Use carts to store and transfer supplies
Things to remember with carts:
• Keep the most frequently used and
heavy items within easy reach
between hip and shoulder height.
• Cart wheels should be made of a
material that is compatible with the
floor surface in your facility.
• Cart handles that are vertical, with
some horizontal adjustability will
allow all employees to push at
elbow height and shoulder width.
Use carts to store and transfer supplies
• Carts should have wheel locks.
• Handles that can swing out of the
way may be useful for saving space
or reducing reach.
• Heavy carts should have brakes.
• Balance loads and keep loads under
cart weight restrictions.
• Ensure stack height does not block
vision.
When using carts and other equipment:
• Push equipment, rather than pull, when possible.
• Keep arms close to the body and push with whole
body and not just arms.
• Remove unnecessary objects to minimize weight.
• Avoid obstacles that could cause abrupt stops.
• Take defective equipment out of service.
• Perform routine maintenance on all equipment.
Use of spring loaded carts
Spring-loaded carts automatically
bring linen within easy reach.
Remember:
• These carts speed process for handling linen
• They also reduce wear on linen from
excessive pulling
• Select a spring tension that is appropriate
for the weight of the load
• Carts should have wheel locks and heightappropriate handles that can swing out of
the way
• Heavy carts should have brakes
Spring loaded cart
Use buckets with floor drain arrangements
To fill and empty liquids from large containers:
• Use buckets with floor drain arrangements:
– Reduces risk of spills and slips
– speeds process
– reduces waste
• Ensure that casters don't get stuck in floor
grate
• Use hose to fill bucket
• Use buckets with casters to move mop
bucket around.
• Ensure casters are maintained and roll
easily.
Select and use properly designed hand tools
• Properly designed hand tools:
– Speeds process
– Enhances tool safety
– Reduces waste
• Handles should fit the grip size of the
user
• Use bent-handled tools to avoid
bending wrists
• Use appropriate tool weight
Select and use properly designed hand tools
• Use trigger bars rather than single
finger triggers
• Select tools that have minimal vibration
or vibration damping devices
Trigger bar
• Have regular maintenance program for
tools to keep blades sharp and edges
and handles intact
• Always wear the appropriate personal
protective equipment
Equipment and practices for handling
laundry, trash and other bags
• Use handling bags that have side openings:
– They allow for easy disposal without reaching into
and pulling bags up and out.
– Bags should be able to slide off the cart without
lifting.
– Limiting the size and weight of bags
– Provide handles to further decrease lifting
• Use garbage cans that have a frame
instead of a solid can to prevent plastic
bags from sticking to the inside of the can.
• An alternative is to use products on the
inside of the garbage can that prevent the
bag from sticking.
Equipment and practices for handling laundry,
trash and other bags
• Limit the size of the container to limit the weight of the
load employee must lift and dump.
• Place receptacles in unobstructed and easy to reach
places.
Chutes and dumpsters
• Position to minimize lifting. Installing chutes and
dumpsters at or below grade level It is best to lower
the to dumpster or chute rather than lift materials to
higher levels
• Provide automatic opening or hardware to keep doors
open. This minimizes twisting and awkward handling.
Cleaning small objects in a deep sink
Place an object such as a plastic
basin in the bottom of the sink
to raise the work surface
OR
Remove objects to be washed
into a smaller container on the
counter for scrubbing or
soaking and then replace back
in the sink for final rinse
Store inserts and containers in
a convenient location to
encourage consistent use
Loading and unloading laundry
Front-loading washers and dryers:
• Speeds process for retrieving and
placing items
• Minimizes wear-and-tear on linen
• Washers with tumbling cycles separate
clothes, making removal easier.
• For deep tubs, a rake with long or
extendable handle can be used to pull
linen closer to the door opening.
• Raise machines so that opening is
between hip and elbow height of
employees.
Loading and unloading laundry
If using top loading washers, work
practices that reduce risk include:
– Handling small loads of laundry
– Handling only a few items at a time
– Bracing your body against the front of
the machine when lifting
If items are knotted in the machine,
brace with one hand while using the
other to gently pull the items free.
Ensure that items go into a cart rather
than picking up baskets of soiled linen
or wet laundry.
Cleaning work methods and tools
When using water or liquid cleaning products:
• Avoid lifting heavy buckets or
lifting large, full bucket from
sinks.
• Use a hose or similar device to
fill buckets with water.
• Use wheels on buckets that roll
easily and have functional
brakes.
• Ensure that casters are
maintained.
• Use rubber-soled shoes in wet
areas to prevent slipping.
Mopping
• Frequently change mopping styles
when mopping :
– push/pull
– figure 8,
– rocking side to side
• This alternates stress on muscles
Vacuuming and buffing floors
Both vacuum cleaners and buffers should
have:
Lightweight construction
Adjustable handle heights
Triggers (buffer) long enough to accommodate
at least the index and middle fingers
Easy to reach controls
Technique is important for both devices
including:
Use of appropriate grips
Avoiding tight grips and for vacuuming, by
alternating grip.
Vacuuming and buffing floors
• The use of telescoping and extension
handles, hoses and tools can reduce
reaching for low areas, high areas
and far away areas
• Maintain and service the equipment
and change vacuum bags when ½
to 3/4 full
• Vacuums and other powered devices
are preferred over manual equipment
for moderate-to-long duration use
• Heavy canisters or other large, heavy
equipment should have brakes
For all cleaning
• Use spray bottles and
equipment that have trigger
bars rather than single finger
triggers
• Avoid using the ring and little
fingers
• Alternate leading hand
• Avoid tight static grip and
• Use padded non-slip handles
For all cleaning
Use chemical cleaners and abrasive sponges to
minimize scrubbing force.
(Ventilation of rooms, goggles, and gloves may
be necessary when chemicals are used.)
• Use kneepads when kneeling
• Avoid bending and twisting
• Use extension handles, step stools,
or ladders for overhead needs
For all cleaning
 If possible, clean objects at
waist level rather than bending
over them.
 Examples:
 Push wheelchairs up a ramped
platform to perform cleaning
work
 Raise beds to waist level before
cleaning
 When sweeping or dusting use
flat head dusters and push with
the leading edge; sweep all
areas into one pile and pick up
with a vacuum.
Resources used for this overview:
• OSHA Hospital eTool
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hospital/housekeeping/
housekeeping.html
• International Labor Organization - International Hazard
Datasheets on Occupation
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/cis/
products/hdo/htm/cleaner.htm
Additional Resources
• WISHA Core Safety Rules (WAC 296-800)
http://www.lni.wa.gov/wisha/rules/corerules/default.htm
(Basic safety and health rules needed by most employers
in Washington State)
• Workplace Safety and Health
http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/default.asp
• WISHA Ergonomics Ideas Bank
http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/KeepSafe/ReduceHazards/Er
goBank/default.asp
• Cleaning Fact Sheets
http://www.wrppn.org/Janitorial/factsheets.cfm
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:
http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Basics/Assistance/Consultation/consultants.asp
Thank you for taking the time to
learn about safety and health
and how to prevent injuries and
illnesses.