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Work safety: risks of industrial cleaning

Workers employed in industrial cleaning must be protected from falls, slippery surfaces and exposure to harmful gas and liquid substances.

Author: Alba L
Date: Dec 7, 2011 - 5:19:27 AM

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The workers employed in the cleaning of industrial infrastructures and warehouses are a group at risk of several health hazards because of the work conditions in which they have to do their jobs. This is due to several reasons, among which the most important ones are the unstable, slippery surfaces and the cleaning products like detergents that often contain noxious chemicals. In fact, the main casualties in the industry are related to falls, tripping and to dermatitis caused by handling of harmful substances.

As a consequence, it is important to provide employees with the adequate work clothes and shoes, specific to the setting in which they have to act and in compliance with current regulation. It is also fundamental that all used machinery is periodically controlled and in optimal operating conditions.

In general, all human resources involved in cleaning with specific products like surfactant based industrial detergents must wear protection glasses, to protect themselves from acid detergents that produce toxic gas when in contact with the surface to be cleaned. The cleaning of metallic elements for example, requires   the use of detergents with hydrochloric, sulfamic and sulphuric acids, some of which have a high degree of noxious components that can damage both skin and lungs and that should never be used without specific personal protection services.

Another risk the workers in the industrial cleaning sector are exposed to is that of back injuries, that can be caused for a number of reasons like having a bad posture when operating certain cleaning equipment, falls from height and falls on slippery floors.

Like in many other industries, like restaurants, the presence of waxes and liquids on the floors can represent a significant danger, especially if one considers that these tasks often require transportation of heavy loads and dangerous products. Therefore it is crucial that all workers receive dedicated training specific to the job, the behaviour and habits to adopt in the work setting as well as on the products and machinery to be used. Since in the different industries these employees can find equipment that requires a certain treatment or products of which they may not know the composition, the importance of a training period before initiating any job is ever more present.

Moreover, it is considered a good practice to set medical controls for employees in contact with potentially dangerous substances and whose health conditions may be affected of physical requirements linked to the execution of the job. In addition, there are many firms that are undertaking the path of eco-friendly detergents in substitution of the acid ones, a choice that is safer and more convenient in the long term and that will undoubtedly contribute to decreasing the number of illnesses due to exposure to harmful liquids and gas.

Written by Alba L with support from Vendita Idropulitrici.
Visit Pulizia Pannelli Fotovoltaici or Idropulitrice Padova for further details.
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