Janitors, Custodians, and Housekeepers

Module 1:
Chemical Hazards from Cleaning Products
 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 chemical hazards from cleaning products and

provide tips for prevention
– Module 2 will cover physical hazards
– Module 3 will cover exposure to biological hazards
– Module 4 will cover musculoskeletal 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 have a variety of tasks:
• 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
• 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:

• Hospitals • Stores
• Schools • Nursing Homes
• Universities • Clinics
• Laboratories
• Factories
• Offices
• Restaurants
Most Commonly Reported Lost Time
Injuries to Janitors and Custodians

All other
12%

Breathing
Eye
chemical irritation or
fumes 12%
burns 40%

Skin
irritation or
burns
36%

Lost time injuries are those that are so serious,

the worker is off work for three days or more.
 Chemical hazards that may cause injuries
and illness to janitors:

• Cleaning, rinsing, and sanitizing agents

• Hydrochloric acid
• Dusts
• Soot particles
• Aerosols when cleaning
• Solvents
• Asbestos
The highest risk janitorial products

– Are corrosive to the eyes and skin;

– Are flammable;

– Give off toxic fumes; or

– Are poisonous
 What cleaners have the most risk?

Product Type How These Can Harm You

Acid Toilet Bowl Cleaner Corrosive to the eyes and skin.

with Hydrochloric acid Can cause blindness in seconds.
or Phosphoric acid If possible, switch to one with citric
(Good at removing hard acid.
water rings.)

Metal Cleaner Poisonous, Causes cancer, or

With Perchloroethylene Flammable

Carpet Spotter Poisonous, Causes cancer, or

With Perchloroethylene Flammable
 What cleaners have the most risk?
Product Type How These Can Harm You
General Purpose Cleaner Butoxyethanol absorbs through
With Butoxyethanol, your skin and can harm your
Sodium hydroxide, & blood, liver, and kidneys.
Ethanolamine Corrosive to eyes and skin,
Poisonous, or Flammable

Floor Finish Stripper or Corrosive to eyes and skin,

Baseboard Stripper Poisonous
With Butoxyethanol,
Sodium hydroxide, &
Ethanolamine
 What cleaners have the most risk?

Product Type How These Can Harm You

Oven Cleaner or Oven cleaner in a spray can that is
Heavy Duty Degreaser very convenient but can also be
With Sodium Hydroxide very dangerous.
Sodium hydroxide can blind you,
and the vapors can harm your
lungs. Use it with care. Wear gloves
& goggles and get lots of fresh air.
Graffiti Remover Poisonous, Causes cancer, or
With Butoxyethanol Flammable
 What cleaners have the most risk?

Product Type How These Can Harm You

Glass Cleaner Flammable or Poisonous
With Butoxyethanol

Disinfectant Corrosive to eyes and skin &

With Bleach, Phenol, Poisonous
Quats., or Hydrogen
Peroxide
 With all cleaners:

• Read the Label

– Avoid products with the words “Danger”,
“Poison”, or “Warning”

– When you must use a strong product to get

the job done, protect yourself by wearing
gloves & goggles, and be sure your work area
has plenty of fresh air.
 With all cleaners:
• Call Customer Service

– Most labels have an “800”

number to call with questions.

– Ask the customer service people

to tell you if the product you are
using has ingredients that may
harm you.

– If there is no phone number on

the container, ask your
distributor or the store where
you bought the product.
 With all cleaners:
• Read the Material Safety Data Sheet
(MSDS) for the cleaner.
– This sheet explains what is in the product, how
these ingredients may harm you, and how to
protect yourself while using it. Many companies
also have MSDSs on their website.

– You can also find them at MSDS Search

http://www.msdssearch.com/msdssearch.htm
 The following slides will cover:

Safe and Effective:

1. Toilet Cleaning
2. Use of Floor Finish Strippers
3. Carpet Cleaning
4. Restroom Cleaning
5. Glass Cleaning
6. Metal Cleaning
7. Disinfecting
 1. Safe & Effective Toilet Cleaning

• Don’t mix acids with bleach.

This creates chlorine gas
that can kill you.

• Use a mild cleaner for daily

toilet polishing.

• Unless the toilets are

already in good shape,
clean them first and then
use a separate disinfectant.
Safe & Effective Toilet Cleaning (continued)

• Use acid cleaners only

when you have really
stubborn stains to
remove.
• Acids corrode metal. Use
acid cleaners only on
porcelain toilet bowls.
• Acid cleaners are very
dangerous – always For more information toilet
cleaning see:
protect yourself by http://www.wrppn.org/
wearing gloves and Janitorial/factsheets/toilet.htm
goggles.
 2. Safe & Effective Use of Floor Finish
Strippers
• Hard floor care involves one of the most
dangerous chemical products that janitors use –
floor finish stripper.

Floor stripper ingredients and risks to users

Butoxyethanol Absorbs through skin. Damages
blood, liver, kidneys, developing
babies.
Monoethanolamine Absorbs through skin. Damages
blood, liver, kidneys, developing
babies. Can damage eyes and
skin.
Sodium hydroxide or Can cause blindness and
Sodium Metasilicate severely damage skin.
 Safe & Effective Use of Floor Finish
Strippers (continued)

• Reducing floor stripper use is a good idea for

safety and for saving money.
• Stripping should be done only when needed and
then it should be done in a safe effective manner
to reduce exposure to these dangerous
chemicals.
• Reduce the need for floor stripping through
– Prevention
– Monitoring
– Safe effective product use
 Safe & Effective Use of Floor Finish
Strippers (continued)
• Prevention: You can cut back
on the need for floor stripping by
keeping abrasive dirt particles
from reaching the floor in the
first place.
– Keep dirt outdoors. Use walk-in mats
at entrances. Clean mats often.
– Use dust mops and vacuums to
sweep up dirt frequently.
– Wet mop the floor with a liquid
cleaner or surface buffing product.
 Safe & Effective Use of Floor Finish
Strippers (continued)

• Monitoring: The next step for reducing

stripper use is to carefully monitor the
floor refinishing work that you do.
– Strip floor finish only when needed.
– Refinish only areas where the surface is
wearing out.
– Keep good records and maps to spot patterns
in the way the floors are wearing
– Tracking the amount of floor stripper use will
often encourage people to use less.
 Safe & Effective Use of Floor Finish
Strippers (continued)

• Effective product use:

– Mix the stripper with as much water as you can
while still getting the job done.
– Minimize mistakes, spills, and waste:
• Color code equipment used for the stripper, the rinse
water, and the floor finish.
• Simple agitation with a machine or hand scrubber
helps the stripper work more quickly and uniformly.
• Use automatic dispensers for products used most
frequently.
• Use safe lifting techniques to avoid accidents.
 Safe & Effective Use of Floor Finish
Strippers (continued)

Reducing Worker Exposure:

– Strippers are most dangerous to eyes and skin.
– The concentrated product is most dangerous
but the diluted product can still cause harm.
 Safe & Effective Use of Floor Finish
Strippers (continued)
Reducing Worker Exposure:
•Use Goggles and Gloves
•Goggles can also provide
protection against irritating
gases and vapors.
•Some are vented to prevent
fogging.

•Use Ventilation
 Safe & Effective Use of Floor Finish
Strippers (continued)

A 15 minute full flow eye

wash station must be
provided in any area where
corrosive chemicals such as
floor strippers are used.
 Safe & Effective Use of Floor Finish
Strippers (continued)

• If a chemical is splashed in
the eye, go immediately to
the eyewash.

• Hold or have both your eyelids

held open.

• Wash your eyes for at least 15

minutes.

• Seek medical attention.

 Safe & Effective Use of Floor Finish
Strippers (continued)
Remember:
• Permanent vision loss starts within 10 seconds
after a worker splashes stripper concentrate into
the eye.
• Immediately flushing the eyes with water is
essential to stop the damage from getting worse.
• Skin burns start to develop in seconds as well.
Quickly washing the burned area with water
usually avoids permanent damage.
• Harmful chemicals in strippers can be absorbed
through skin to poison the user.

For more information on floor finishing see:

http://www.wrppn.org/Janitorial/factsheets/floor.htm
 3. Safe & Effective Carpet Cleaning

Carpet care products

– Most are relatively safe to use but some do
contain hazardous chemicals.

Carpet Maintenance Program

– The safest most effective program will:
• Choose and install carpet wisely
• Use methods to reduce dust and dirt
• Use proper cleaning methods
• Use the mildest, most effective products that are
suited to the carpet
 Safe & Effective Carpet Cleaning
(continued)

Carpet Design and Installation

– Choose the right carpet type and underlay for
the area where it’s installed.
– Don’t use carpets in places where water,
chemicals, or hard-to-clean material are used.
• Locker rooms
• Kitchens
• Copy centers
– Consider how nearby surface will be cleaned
and what may spill onto the carpet.
 Safe & Effective Carpet Cleaning
(continued)

Dust Prevention
– Preventing soil and dust from entering a
building means less frequent cleaning and less
chemicals.
• Place large walk-on mats at building entrances.
• Clean the mats frequently
• Experiment with different textures and sizes to see
what works best

– Properly maintain vents that exhaust outdoors.

– Push airborne dust back out of doorways by

operating the heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning systems so that the air pressure
just inside each doorway is higher than that of
the outdoor air.
 Safe & Effective Carpet Cleaning
(continued)

Proper Cleaning Methods -

Vacuuming
Half or more soil that falls onto
carpets can be cleaned by:
• Daily vacuuming with strong suction,
tight filter, rotating brush machines.
• Four back and forth strokes of the wand
across the carpet in low traffic areas.
• Up to ten wand strokes for high traffic
areas and outside doorways.
 Safe & Effective Carpet Cleaning
(continued)

Proper Cleaning Methods-Spot Removal

– React to spills and spots immediately
– Use proper spill clean-up techniques
• Start with clear, cold water and blotting cloths
– Use carpet spot removal products only when
needed
• Use sparingly and wear goggles and gloves
• Avoid products with hydrofluoric acid (rust remover)
or tetrachloroethylene (“Type 4 spot remover”)
 Safe & Effective Carpet Cleaning
(continued)

Proper Cleaning Methods-Maintenance Cleaners

– Rotary bonnet cleaners and carpet shampoos usually are
fairly mild products

– Be careful not to misuse or over-apply maintenance

cleaners or you will need to do hot water extraction more
often

– Ingredients that are in maintenance cleaners pose the

greatest risks through inhalation (e.g., isopropanol) or
skin contact (e.g., butoxyethanol or ethanolamine)
• Provide good ventilation
• Wear gloves

For more information on carpet cleaning, extractants, and mildewcides

see: http://www.wrppn.org/Janitorial/factsheets/carpetcleaning.htm
4. Safe and Effective Restroom Cleaning

• Maintain clean and sanitary restrooms by

following a two-level cleaning schedule
– Use mild products for regular daily cleaning
– Use stronger products only for weekly deep
cleaning
4. Safe and Effective Restroom Cleaning
(continued)

Regular daily cleaning:

– Trash removal, surface cleaning, disinfection, and
restocking supplies
– Some products combine cleaning and disinfecting
ingredients in one container. These combined products
work well only on surfaces that are already relatively
clean.
– For dirty surfaces it is important to clean first, and then
apply a separate disinfectant. To work well, this
disinfectant must remain in place for at least 10
minutes.
– Relatively mild products are available for daily
restroom cleaning.
Safe and Effective Restroom Cleaning
(continued)

Deep restroom cleaning:

– Needs to be done weekly in most cases or daily in high
traffic restrooms
– Most deep cleaning can be done with your regular daily
cleaners
– Some deep cleaning tasks require stronger chemical
products to remove stubborn deposits or stains.
Examples of these:
• Removing graffiti
• Stained toilet bowls
• Shower tile deposits

For more information on restroom cleaning see:

http://www.wrppn.org/Janitorial/factsheets/restroom.htm
 Safe and Effective Restroom Cleaning
(continued)
Restroom products range from mild to strong, and have many different
ingredients. Some have acids and other chemicals that can harm you.
Chemicals commonly found in strong restroom cleaners
Use with extreme care (gloves and Avoid
goggles) or avoid
•Butane or isobutane (aerosol •Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite)
•propellants) •Hydrochloric Acid
•Diphosphonic Acid •Nitrilotriacetic Acid
•Ethanolamines •Nitrilotriacetate
•Glycol Ethers (such as •Paradichlorobenzene
butoxyethanol) •Perchloroethylene
•Hydroxyacetic Acid •Phenol
•Phosphoric Acid •Tetrachloroethylene
•Propane
•Quaternary Ammonium Chloride
•Sodium Bisulfate
•Sodium Carbonate
•Sodium Hydroxide
5. Safe and Effective Glass Cleaning

Routine Glass Cleaning:

• Use a mild cleaner with alcohol or
ammonia for daily glass maintenance
• Avoid glass cleaning products that are
flammable
• Use products that are packaged in a
trigger bottle rather than an aerosol
can

Disinfection:
• If you need to disinfect the surface,
use a product that contains Alkyl
Ammonium Chloride to kill germs
 Safe and Effective Glass Cleaning
(continued)

Grease Removal
• Grease, fingerprints, or oily deposits are sometime difficult
to remove with your daily cleaner
• Some of the stronger degreasing cleaners contain
butoxyethanol or other toxic ingredients. If you use them:
– Wear gloves and goggles
– Apply the cleaner with a scrub pad if a rag or squeegee
doesn’t work
– Afterwards you may need to remove streaks from the
degreaser by using your regular cleaner
• Don’t use any degreasers made for auto repair work because
they may contain flammable ingredients such as naphtha or
hexane.
For more information on glass cleaning see:
http://www.wrppn.org/Janitorial/factsheets/glass.htm
 6. Safe and Effective Metal Cleaning
Routine Metal Cleaning:
• Use a mild cleaner for daily polishing
• Avoid metal cleaning products that are flammable
• Use products that are packaged in a trigger bottle
rather than an aerosol can

Disinfection:
• If you need to disinfect the surface, use a product
that contains Alkyl Ammonium Chloride to kill
germs
 Safe and Effective Metal Cleaning
(continued)

Grease Removal
• Grease, fingerprints, or oily deposits are sometime difficult to
remove with your daily cleaner. Some of the stronger
degreasing cleaners contain butoxyethanol or similar
ingredients. If you use them:
– Wear gloves and goggles
– Spray the degreaser onto your rag or brush, then wipe the
metal surface
– If that doesn’t work carefully spray degreaser onto the
metal while holding your rag nearby to prevent overspray
– Let the degreaser sit on the metal briefly, and then wipe it
– Afterwards you may need to remove streaks from the
degreaser by using your regular cleaner

• Don’t use any degreasers made for auto repair work because
they may contain flammable ingredients such as naphtha or
hexane.
• For more information on metal cleaning see:
http://www.wrppn.org/Janitorial/factsheets/metal.htm
 6. Safe and Effective Disinfecting
• Thorough cleaning of sinks, toilets, doorknobs, and
other hard surfaces that people frequently touch is
the first and most important step in preventing the
spread of disease.

• Different ingredients or combinations of ingredients

kill different germs so use an appropriate product for
the job

• Follow product mixing instructions and make only as

much as you need.

• Wear gloves and goggles because disinfectants can

harm you.

• Leave the disinfectant in place long enough for it to

do its job
 Safe and Effective Disinfecting
(continued)
Potential Impacts of Different Disinfectants
Ingredient How affects user How affects
surfaces
Quaternary Eye & skin burns Stains floor tile
Ammonium Chlorides
Phenols Eye & skin burns Corrodes plastic
surfaces
Sodium Hypochlorite Eye & skin burns; Corrodes metal
(Bleach) Vapors harmful surfaces
Hydrogen Peroxide Eye & skin burns; Corrodes metal
Vapors harmful surfaces
Alcohols Absorbs through skin; Usually none
Vapors harmful
Iodine Eye & skin burns Stains many surfaces
For more information on disinfecting see:
http://www.wrppn.org/Janitorial/factsheets/disinfectant.htm
 In Summary – Important Safety Tips

• Use stronger chemicals sparingly and carefully to

avoid harming the user or building occupants
• Train workers in the processes and chemicals
used
• If possible, have people work in buddy teams
when using stronger chemicals
• Corrosive chemicals (acids or caustics) can blind
you in seconds. Always wear goggles to protect
your eyes.
• Corrosives can also damage your skin and leave
scars. Wear gloves to protect your hands.
 In Summary – Important Safety Tips

• Some poisonous chemicals absorb through your

skin. Always wear gloves when using products
containing glycol ethers or ethanolamines.
• Some poisonous chemicals are easily inhaled. Be
sure your work area has enough ventilation.
• Mixing different products together can create
poisonous chemicals. Avoid mixing products, and
be sure to rinse out work buckets after each use.
Resources used for this overview:
• Janitorial Products Pollution Prevention Project
(Sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Cal/EPA Department
of Toxic Substance Control, Santa Clara County Pollution Prevention Project, City
of Los Angeles, City of Richmond, City of Santa Barbara, and Local Government
Commission)
http://www.wrppn.org/Janitorial/jp4.cfm

• Janitorial Products Pollution Prevention Project: Cleaning

Fact Sheets
http://www.wrppn.org/Janitorial/factsheets.cfm

• 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

• MSDS Search
http://www.msdssearch.com/msdssearch.htm

• Removing Graffiti Safely

http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~lohp/graphics/pdf/
graffiti.pdf

• Sample label - If a container loses its label, or

if you feel that the original label does not provide
all the information you want.
http://www.westp2net.org/Janitorial/commentaries/
labels.pdf
 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.