Safety Precautions

Many a time, newspapers have reported workers who get down to the drains for cleaning, choke to death. Parched fingers or feet, skin disease, respiratory disorders, damaged backs or knees… most workers are silent sufferers of these health ailments and more.

Lack of proper safety gadgets and low awareness levels are two of the major causes for housekeeping workers’ sufferings today in India. Safety norms differ from industry to industry and can broadly be devised for – hospital, industries and hotels.

Some of the basic tools for safety include:

Gloves: Different gloves are used for food handling, washroom cleaning, chemical handling, drainage cleaning and waste handling.

Mask: Especially in enclosed surroundings where there are chances of toxic fumes like in the sewer lines, chemical factories, cotton/textile manufacturing units, clean rooms, food industry, etc. Masks are worn for two reasons – for protection against breathing in anything hazardous and from spreading infection, especially while handling food.

Boots: While cleaning drainage lines, washrooms, chemical factories, etc., proper boots protect feet and legs from getting damaged.

Head gear: When cleaning a heavy engineering workshop, head gear protects the worker from any mishap. Similarly, a different headgear used in the food or pharma industry.

Besides safety gadgets, safety in handling equipment & chemicals and also proper posture while cleaning are equally important.

Between a quarter to a third of all accidents are due to lifting objects incorrectly. Bending over to lift an object is dangerous – remember you have to lift the weight of your upper body as well as the item you are picking up, says G4S Facility Management Manual. Injuries can include a fully or partially ruptured disk and /or ligament, tendon or result in muscle damage.

What can increase the risk?

• Excessive fatigue
• Bad posture due to cramped and restricted areas.
• Heavy loads, twisting while lifting.
• Repetitive lifting.

Points to remember

• Bend your knees when you are lifting – this will help to keep your back straight
• Push or pull objects close to you where possible – don’t reach over other objects to lift a vacuum, buffer, etc.
• Keep load close to you when carrying
• Be careful when pulling out plugs; this can combine twisting with bending
• Seek help when lifting a heavy load and assess the weight of the load before you lift.

Finally, is it necessary to lift the load manually? Can you use mechanical aids or trolleys to lessen the load?

Confined Spaces

Oxygen is vital for our body – every breath of air we take in contains 21% oxygen. We use this to keep our organs healthy and alive. At least 16% is exhaled each time we breathe out.

At 19% we become sleepy and confused. At 17% the air is totally unfit to breathe.

So, if you ever have to clean a tank, a duct or have to use chemicals in any confined space or where there is poor ventilation, watch out for:

• Lowering of oxygen level;
• Accumulation of fumes from chemicals;
• When entering the confined space, wear a harness with a rope attached. Remember that many fumes such as chlorine from bleaches are heavier than air, so there will be a greater concentration of them the nearer you get to the bottom of the confined space;
• An appropriate warning sign shall be posted on each ‘Permit Required Confined Space’ and the space shall be locked to prevent unauthorised entry;
• Every worker involved in confined space entry operations must fully understand his duties, the hazards of the specific confined space, the appropriate safety controls and the equipment required before work begins;
• Contractors must be informed prior to entry of the potential hazards that may be encountered during their work. This includes giving the contractor access to any information available on the confined spaces involved in his project.

Cleaning Machines

Buffers are one of the great workhouses of the cleaning industry, giving excellent results when properly used. Some simple steps can ensure that the machines do not become weapons when used.

To prevent accidents, only use machines that you know how to operate. Never attempt to operate an unfamiliar machine without reading the machine instructions or receiving directions from a qualified employee. In addition, follow these guidelines to ensure machine safely:

• Secure machines that tend to move during operation.
• Do not place machines near the edge of a table or desk.
• Ensure that machines with moving parts are guarded to prevent accidents. Do not remove these guards.
• Unplug defective machines and have them repaired immediately.
• Do not use any machine that smokes, sparks, shocks or appears defective in anyway.
• Close hand-operated paper cutters after each use and activate the guard.
• Always switch on at the wall socket first then the machine
• Floor machines that combine electric power with water have to be treated with respect, as one is up to 600 times more likely to die from electrocution if one receives a shock in a damp environment.
• When cleaning a filter, always wear gloves as the risk of infection from receiving a cut or a nick are very real.
• Always bend your knees when changing a pad.
• Do not use your bare hands when changing a pad. There is often a speculation population of micro-organisms on the pad.
• Always work forward and keep the cable over your shoulder.
• Never handle equipment or plugs with wet hands. Sweaty hands are a major hazard.
• Twists drive plate on the backing device ensuring correct attachment. It should be firm.
• Remember, some machines are very powerful. There may be quite a kick when you switch them on anticipate this if you are unfamiliar with the particular machine in use.

Electric Shock

Electricity is essential for most operations on contract cleaning sites. If used incorrectly, it can kill.

The points to remember include:

• Wet or sweaty hands can increase chances of electrocution by up to 600 times.
• Flexible cable damage can leave anyone open to electric shock.
• Getting that last inch out of the cable can result in the earth wire being pulled out of its terminal in the plug. The machine can then be alive.
• Badly made joints can be pulled apart and leave bare wires exposed.
• Incorrectly made connection (live/neutral mixed up) mean that you have no protection from the fuse.

Always: Switch off apparatus at the socket (to pull out the plug) when you change a pad, empty a vacuum cleaner, etc.

Never: Work with electric machine when your hands are damp.

Always: Use 5amp fuses for vacuum and use 15amp fuses for floor machines.

Never: Use a machine with a damaged plug, cables or bits of plastic covers missing.

• Inspect the area you are working in for electrical hazards.
• To use 220V machines take care that it is not plugged into a 3-phase outlet. It shall damage the machine altogether.
• Don’t overload circuits. Keep electrical equipment away from water and dampness.
• In case of electrocution switch off electricity before approaching victim.
• If this is not possible, push or drag victim from source of electricity using dry non-conductive material.
• Never use water to put out an electrical fire; water can cause a fatal shock.