When you work for cleaning services, you could work in schools, factories, hospitals, or offices. The job can be difficult and requires a lot of stamina. Dangers can also be associated with being a janitor. Working as a janitor for a janitorial service, you are subject to various chemical and physical hazards. This can include constant lifting, using heavy equipment to clean, bending over, stooping, standing for eight hours a day, using harsh chemicals to clean, and more. Any of these hazards can result in serious injury and lifelong injury.
To help minimize the risks of accidents and hazards, a janitorial service should conduct training sessions and go over what a janitor can do to work safely. This includes:
• A very common job for a janitor is lifting heavy equipment. To avoid muscle strains and back injuries, be sure to use proper lifting techniques. When lifting heavy things, bend your knees and lift them off the floor making sure to avoid twisting and twisting your back.
• To relieve the stress of continuous work, take short breaks
• If you’re working with someone and have to lift heavy equipment, ask the person working with you for help so you don’t have to carry all the load yourself. It could adversely affect your body and cause injury. You should also have a lifting belt when you have to lift a heavy load by yourself or with someone else.
• Make sure the shoes you wear are comfortable and have non-slip rubber soles to grip the floor, especially if it’s wet because you may have floors to mop.
• Most janitors have carts that carry your equipment like mops, brooms, dusting cloths, cleaners, etc. Make sure they are in good condition and roll smoothly across the floors. If there is a wobbly wheel or other issues with the cart, please let your housekeeping service know so they can fix it. When you push them, lean forward to make it easier to push them. Take time to stretch after pushing the cart so you don’t strain your back or cause back strain from pushing the cart too far.
• One of the main functions is cleaning the floors. It can be mopping or vacuuming the floor. Be sure to maintain proper body posture when cleaning the floor. When mopping, make sure that the handle is well supported and that it is done in a rhythmic motion to avoid fatigue.
• When taking out the trash, cleaning bathrooms, and playing with chemicals and cleaners, wear rubber gloves to protect your hands.