JANITOR & JANITOR & CUSTODIAN CUSTODIAN

HAZARD HAZARD AWARENESSAWARENESS

Taking the Safest Approach

The best way to prevent injuries is to (#1) remove the hazard altogether, or keep it isolated, away from workers, so it cannot hurt anyone. This way the workplace itself is safer!

Removing the hazard can sometimes be the most difficult solution or take the longest time to implement. You may need other solutions to protect you in the meantime, like changing the way the work is done (#2) or using protective clothing and equipment (#3).

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE: Chemicals like toilet bowl cleaners can splash into

janitors’ eyes. What controls can be put in place to keep workers from getting hurt? 1. Is there a way to remove the hazard? Use a less toxic product that causes fewer health

problems. This is the safest approach. 2. What improvement in work practices would

help? Train workers on the importance of pouring chemicals

from a low height to avoid splashing. 3. What protective clothing or equipment would

help? Use goggles to prevent any splashes from getting into

the eyes.

Eye irritation or burns 40%

Skin irritation or

burns 36%

Breathing chemical

fumes 12%

All other 12%

WITH ALL CLEANERS:WITH ALL CLEANERS:

Read the Material Safety Data Sheet Read the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the cleaner.(MSDS) for the cleaner. This sheet explains what is in the product, This sheet explains what is in the product,

how these ingredients may harm you, and how these ingredients may harm you, and how to protect yourself while using it. Many how to protect yourself while using it. Many companies also have MSDSs on their website.companies also have MSDSs on their website.

You can also find them at You can also find them at MSDS SearchMSDS Searchhttp://http://www.msdssearch.com/msdssearch.htmwww.msdssearch.com/msdssearch.htm

Physical HazardsPhysical Hazards

They’re responsible for a large They’re responsible for a large variety of tasks:variety of tasks:

VacuumingVacuuming Sweeping and MoppingSweeping and Mopping Waxing floorsWaxing floors Cleaning bathroomsCleaning bathrooms Dusting furnitureDusting furniture Moving furnitureMoving furniture Emptying trashEmptying trash faucetsfaucets Mowing lawnsMowing lawns Restocking suppliesRestocking supplies Wiping counters Wiping counters ScrubbingScrubbing Unstopping drains/ Unstopping drains/

repairingrepairing

Removing stainsRemoving stains Heating/Air conditioningHeating/Air conditioning VentilationVentilation Insect controlInsect control Maintaining and cleaning Maintaining and cleaning

doors and windowsdoors and windows Delivery/Pick up of itemsDelivery/Pick up of items Extra securityExtra security Weather emergenciesWeather emergencies Lab spillsLab spills Helping with disabled carsHelping with disabled cars Minor repairsMinor repairs Painting and carpentryPainting and carpentry

Physical HazardsPhysical Hazards

Falls from ladders and elevated platformsFalls from ladders and elevated platforms

Wet, slippery floorsWet, slippery floors

Falling objectsFalling objects

Moving or rotating machinery partsMoving or rotating machinery parts

Electrical equipment and wiresElectrical equipment and wires

Hot equipmentHot equipment

Sharp objects, scrap metal, broken glassSharp objects, scrap metal, broken glass

Noise from machinery or cleaning equipmentNoise from machinery or cleaning equipment

High temperaturesHigh temperatures

Preventing falls from Preventing falls from elevationselevations

Don’t work on an elevated floor or work location without Don’t work on an elevated floor or work location without guardrails in place.guardrails in place.

Don’t stand on guardrails to gain extra height. Don’t stand on guardrails to gain extra height.

Don’t lean over railings. Don’t lean over railings.

Preventing slips, trips, and Preventing slips, trips, and falls:falls:

Wet, slippery floors are Wet, slippery floors are a major cause of slips, a major cause of slips, trips, and falls. To help trips, and falls. To help prevent accidents:prevent accidents: Wear safety shoes with Wear safety shoes with

non-skid soles non-skid soles Keep floors free from Keep floors free from

water or greasewater or grease Clean floors regularlyClean floors regularly Use slip-resistant waxes Use slip-resistant waxes

on floorson floors Clean up spills Clean up spills

immediatelyimmediately Put up warning signs Put up warning signs

around spills or wet floorsaround spills or wet floors

Preventing injuries from Preventing injuries from machinerymachinery

Machinery with moving or rotating parts must be equipped with guards.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.

Preventing burns from hot Preventing burns from hot equipmentequipment

Do not handle or touch hot Do not handle or touch hot (or those that may be hot) (or those that may be hot) articles or surfaces with articles or surfaces with bare handsbare hands

If needed, wear heat-If needed, wear heat-protective gloves protective gloves

Organize your work area to Organize your work area to prevent contact with hot prevent contact with hot objects and flamesobjects and flames

Open hot water faucets Open hot water faucets slowly to avoid splashesslowly to avoid splashes

Report any faulty Report any faulty equipment to your equipment to your supervisorsupervisor

Biological hazards you may Biological hazards you may encounter:encounter:

Blood and body Blood and body fluidsfluids

PathogensPathogens VirusesViruses BacteriaBacteria FungiFungi ParasitesParasites

Rodents and Rodents and rodent droppingsrodent droppings

InsectsInsects

Musculoskeletal HazardsMusculoskeletal Hazards

Musculoskeletal and repetitive motion Musculoskeletal and repetitive motion injuries can occur from:injuries can occur from:

Overexertion (Heavy or awkward lifting)Overexertion (Heavy or awkward lifting)

Awkward postures (bent back, kneeling)Awkward postures (bent back, kneeling)

Repetitive movements (ex. Scrubbing)Repetitive movements (ex. Scrubbing)

Preventing musculoskeletal Preventing musculoskeletal injuriesinjuries

Moving and storing itemsMoving and storing items Filling and emptying liquids from Filling and emptying liquids from

containerscontainers Using hand toolsUsing hand tools Handling laundry, trash, and other bagsHandling laundry, trash, and other bags Cleaning small items in large sinksCleaning small items in large sinks Loading or unloading laundryLoading or unloading laundry Wet cleaning and moppingWet cleaning and mopping Vacuuming or buffingVacuuming or buffing General cleaningGeneral cleaning

Use carts to store and transfer Use carts to store and transfer suppliessupplies

Carts should have wheel locks. Carts should have wheel locks.

Handles that can swing out of the Handles that can swing out of the way may be useful for saving way may be useful for saving space or reducing reach. space or reducing reach.

Heavy carts should have brakes. Heavy carts should have brakes.

Balance loads and keep loads Balance loads and keep loads under cart weight restrictions. under cart weight restrictions.

Ensure stack height does not Ensure stack height does not block vision.block vision.

Most products used to remove graffiti contain harmful chemicals. These products may be liquids or solids. Liquids include cleaning solutions in:

bottles, sprays, or special towels that come pre-soaked with chemicals.

Solids used to remove graffiti are usually in the form of a paste.

Chemicals can get into your Chemicals can get into your body in four main ways:body in four main ways:

Breathing (Inhalation)Breathing (Inhalation)You may be breathing

chemical vapors or fumes from the products you use, even if you can’t see or smell them.

From your lungs, chemicals can get into your blood. They then travel to many organs in your body, where they can cause damage.

It is easier for chemicals to increase to a harmful level in the air inside an enclosed area such as a bus.

SKIN ……SKIN ……You may accidentally get chemicals onyour skin. Even if you wear gloves or protective clothing, chemicals can sometimes soak through to your skin.

Chemicals can also get onto your skinwhen you are removing wet gloves orclothing.

Chemicals can be absorbed into yourbody through your skin. Some chemicals go through the skin veryfast, and others slowly. Your blood then carries the chemicals throughoutyour body.

Some chemicals can hurt your skinitself and cause irritation or serious burns.

EYES…..EYES…..

Your eyes can be seriously injured by chemicals.

Chemicals may splash into your eyes, or you may accidentally touch your eyes when you have chemicals on your hands.

Chemical vapors in the air can also harm your eyes. If you remove graffiti outside and it’s windy, the wind can blow chemicals into your eyes.

If you remove graffiti overhead, chemicals can drip into your eyes.

Swallowing (Ingestion)Swallowing (Ingestion)

Sometimes people swallowSometimes people swallowchemicals that havechemicals that have

gotten into their food orgotten into their food or drink, or onto their drink, or onto their

cigarettes. cigarettes.

You can swallow You can swallow chemicals if you eatchemicals if you eatdrink, or smoke if youdrink, or smoke if youdon’t before washing yourdon’t before washing yourhands.hands.

Can You Tell By the Can You Tell By the Smell?Smell?

NO!NO!

Don’t depend on smell to tell you if a product is safe or Don’t depend on smell to tell you if a product is safe or unsafe. unsafe.

Many chemicals are very toxic even though they have no Many chemicals are very toxic even though they have no odor or smell good. Other chemicals have a strong smell odor or smell good. Other chemicals have a strong smell but are fairly harmless.but are fairly harmless.

Some people have a better sense of smell than others. Also, Some people have a better sense of smell than others. Also, you may get used to the odor and lose your ability to smell you may get used to the odor and lose your ability to smell certain chemicals if you are around them for a while.certain chemicals if you are around them for a while.

Health Effects of Health Effects of ChemicalsChemicals

Many chemicals can hurt your body. With some chemicals, a small amount can harm you. With other chemicals, it takes a much larger amount to harm you.

Effects of chemicals can be either:short term - cause symptoms right away (like a burn or a cough). long term - damage your health slowly. You can use them for months, or even years, before symptoms show up.

Health Effects of Health Effects of ChemicalsChemicals

Brain and Nervous System Brain and Nervous System Vapors of some chemicals can causeVapors of some chemicals can causeheadache, dizziness, drowsiness, lack headache, dizziness, drowsiness, lack

ofofcoordination, or nausea.coordination, or nausea.

Eyes Eyes Some chemicals can burn your eyes or Some chemicals can burn your eyes or

cause redness, watering, or itching.cause redness, watering, or itching. Nose, Throat, and LungsNose, Throat, and Lungs

Some chemical vapors can cause a Some chemical vapors can cause a runny nose, scratchy throat, coughing, runny nose, scratchy throat, coughing, or shortness of breath. A few can or shortness of breath. A few can cause asthma and other allergies. If cause asthma and other allergies. If you become allergic to a particular you become allergic to a particular chemical, you may have an allergic chemical, you may have an allergic reaction every time you use it.reaction every time you use it.

SkinSkin If you get certain chemicals on your If you get certain chemicals on your

skin, they can cause redness, itching, skin, they can cause redness, itching, dryness, cracking, flaking, or burns.dryness, cracking, flaking, or burns.

Blood-Forming SystemBlood-Forming System One class of chemicals, ethylene glycol One class of chemicals, ethylene glycol

ethers, can damage the bone marrow, ethers, can damage the bone marrow, where blood cells are formed. They can where blood cells are formed. They can also damage the red blood cells also damage the red blood cells themselves. This can cause anemia.themselves. This can cause anemia.

Liver and Kidneys Liver and Kidneys A few chemicals can cause permanent A few chemicals can cause permanent

liver andliver andkidney damage.kidney damage.

Reproductive System Reproductive System Some chemicals can damage eggs Some chemicals can damage eggs

and sperm, orand sperm, orcause birth defects. This is not cause birth defects. This is not

common.common.Cancer Cancer

Certain chemicals, such as methylene Certain chemicals, such as methylene chloride, can cause cancer.chloride, can cause cancer.

Other Hazards of Removing Other Hazards of Removing GraffitiGraffiti

Musculoskeletal:Musculoskeletal:

Hazards from extensive: Hazards from extensive: standing standing bending bending reaching reaching scrubbingscrubbing repeating the same motions many repeating the same motions many

timestimes

You can often prevent injuries You can often prevent injuries by:by:

using better equipment, such as using better equipment, such as longer handles or padded gripslonger handles or padded grips

working in a better positionworking in a better position taking frequent breaks to stretchtaking frequent breaks to stretch

Resources used for this Resources used for this overview:overview:

Removing Graffiti SafelyRemoving Graffiti Safelyhttp://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~lohp/graphics/pdf/graffiti.pdf~lohp/graphics/pdf/graffiti.pdf

Developed by the staff at:Developed by the staff at:Occupational Health Surveillance and Occupational Health Surveillance and

Evaluation Program (OHSEP), Evaluation Program (OHSEP), Occupational Health Branch,Occupational Health Branch,California Department of Health California Department of Health

ServicesServicesLabor Occupational Health Labor Occupational Health

Program (LOHP), Center for Program (LOHP), Center for Occupational and Occupational and Environmental Health,Environmental Health,

School of Public Health, School of Public Health, University of California, University of California, Berkeley.Berkeley.

WISHA Core Safety Rules (WAC 296-WISHA Core Safety Rules (WAC 296-800)800)

(Basic safety and health rules needed by (Basic safety and health rules needed by most employers in Washington State)most employers in Washington State)

http://http://www.lni.wa.gov/wisha/rules/corerules/default.htwww.lni.wa.gov/wisha/rules/corerules/default.htmm

Additional Safety RulesAdditional Safety Rules(Fall protection, ladders, machine safety, (Fall protection, ladders, machine safety,

lockout/tagout, electrical, hearing lockout/tagout, electrical, hearing conservation, etc.)conservation, etc.)

http://http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/RULES/Find/RuleName/dewww.lni.wa.gov/Safety/RULES/Find/RuleName/default.htmfault.htm

Look for more in-depth modules on Look for more in-depth modules on many of the topics covered in this many of the topics covered in this module at :module at :

http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/TrainTools/Onlinhttp://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/TrainTools/Online/Courses/default.aspe/Courses/default.asp

Workplace Safety and HealthWorkplace Safety and Healthhttp://http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/default.aspwww.lni.wa.gov/Safety/default.asp

Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

MSDS SearchMSDS Searchhttp://http://www.msdssearch.com/msdssearch.htmwww.msdssearch.com/msdssearch.htm

Cleaning Fact SheetsCleaning Fact Sheetshttp://http://www.wrppn.org/Janitorial/factsheets.cfmwww.wrppn.org/Janitorial/factsheets.cfm

WISHA has many workplace health and safety WISHA has many workplace health and safety regulations, which are called standards. For example, regulations, which are called standards. For example, there are standards that require employers to:there are standards that require employers to: Provide necessary PPE, safety equipment, and training at no Provide necessary PPE, safety equipment, and training at no

cost.cost. Limit workers’ exposure to chemicals, noise, and other Limit workers’ exposure to chemicals, noise, and other

hazards.hazards.

Thank you for taking the time to Thank you for taking the time to learn about safety and health learn about safety and health

and how to prevent injuries and and how to prevent injuries and illnesses.illnesses.