Wet work

A large part of the labor market is the occupation of Professional Cleaners. They are also referred to as Commercial Janitors. The Janitorial Occupation is susceptible for a variety of work injuries and occupational illnesses. Janitorial work presents unique risks for work injuries for those within the field.

This article will discuss Janitors, Janitorial Tasks, Industrial injuries and Occupational Illnesses that are prevalent within the Occupation, and the barriers that Janitors have with respect to filing claims.

What are Janitors?

Janitors perform a variety of maintenance tasks a variety of facilities. They use a multitude of tools and chemicals to perform their jobs. They can engage in a large variety of repetitive physical tasks, ie. sweeping or mopping.

Janitors can work at institutions such as schools, hospitals, parks, and prisons.

Janitors can work in commercial buildings such as shopping malls, and they can work in residential properties.

What Are Janitor’s Risks of Industrial Injury?

Each type of facility can present unique risks of work injury for Janitors.

For example, hospitals and medical facilities can have significant amounts of potentially infectious biological material present. Schools can have issues relating to mold exposure.

Further, the physical activities of being a Janitor may cause work injury.

What Types of Injuries Do Janitors Sustain?

There are a variety of work-related orthopedic injuries. These injuries relate, in part, due to the fact that “Janitorial work is repetitive and requires bending, twisting, and other motions that can lead to or exacerbate musculoskeletal disorders, such as arthritis” Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data as an Occupational Health Profile Washington State Janitors, 2011 to 2017 Anderson, Naomi J. MPH; Marcum, Jennifer L. DrPH Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine: September 2019 – Volume 61 – Issue 9 – p 747-753 doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001652

Also, Janitors may sustain respiratory injuries relating to the cleaning chemicals that they use. Further, they may sustain dermatological injuries due to wet work.

What Are the Injury Rates for Janitors?

In a Washington State Study, it was noted that “[t]he prevalence of self-reported work-related injuries in the past year was higher than that of all others …. Analyses of WC data indicate that work-related injury risk may be higher for the industry group containing Janitors than other industries² overall and in several injury types, with women at particularly high risk.” Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data as an Occupational Health Profile Washington State Janitors, 2011 to 2017 Anderson, Naomi J. MPH; Marcum, Jennifer L. DrPH

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine: September 2019 – Volume 61 – Issue 9 – p 747-753 doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001652

Thus, the workers’ compensation industry both has a concern over janitorial injuries as well as an understanding that work injuries are common. Thus, Risk Management handling Janitorial claims will work hard to manage these claims. This can be done with respect to reporting requirements. It can also be done with respect to return to work issues which can include modified work.

Do Janitors Have Emotional Issues?

Yes. Janitors, in the study, reported “being diagnosed with a depressive disorder ..significantly higher and has been reported previously. Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data as an Occupational Health Profile Washington State Janitors, 2011 to 2017 Anderson, Naomi J. MPH; Marcum, Jennifer L. DrPH Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine: September 2019 – Volume 61 – Issue 9 – p 747-753 doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001652

While this finding did not address work-relatedness, it is possible that the depressive disorder may be in party work-related in nature and give rise to a workers’ compensation claim.

Can Shift Work Impact Janitors?

Yes. Shiftwork has been connected to various medical conditions.

Shiftwork can cause issues of inadequate sleep. Inadequate sleep can lead to other health issues.

Do Janitors Have Barriers in Filing Workers’ Compensation Claims?

Yes. There is some concern as to whether all janitor work injury claims are filed. As noted in the study, “[l]ow-wage, immigrant, and/or Hispanic worker populations, including many Janitors, may also not be aware of the WC system (or how to navigate the system, if they lack internet access) or of their right to seek medical care for an occupational injury or illness. Janitors may also face barriers to reporting an injury to their employer, such as fear of consequences. Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data as an Occupational Health Profile Washington State Janitors, 2011 to 2017 Anderson, Naomi J. MPH; Marcum, Jennifer L. DrPH Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine: September 2019 – Volume 61 – Issue 9 – p 747-753 doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001652

If a Janitor is concerned about their employment situation if they claim a work injury, it is important for them to seek legal counsel to discuss their concerns to make a determination as to whether they should file the claim.

What if I Need Advice?

If you would like a free consultation regarding workers’ compensation, please contact the Law Offices of Edward J. Singer, a Professional Law Corporation. We have been helping people in Central and Southern California deal with their workers’ compensation cases for 27 years. Contact us today for more information.

Car Wash Workers have many unique issues with respect to workers’ compensation. Car Wash Workers perform varied tasks which place them at risk for injury. Car Wash Workers are exposed to chemicals and liquids which may place them at risk for injury.

This article will discuss Car Wash Workers and the job tasks that place them at risk for industrial injury.

What Makes Car Wash Workers at Risk for Injury?

“The car wash industry, however, has salient features that predispose to important occupational health risks, namely, the use of hazardous chemicals (ie, hydrofluoric acid), the requirement of repetitive use of extremities, [and] close contact with moving machinery,” Occupational Health of New York City Car Wash Workers Dickens, Brittany BA; Ruiz-Olivo, Laura BA; Palaguachi, Diego BA; Jimenez, David BA; Markowitz, Steven B. MD, DrPH Author Information Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine: February 2019 – Volume 61 – Issue 2 – p e77-e79 doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001520

What are the Common Job Tasks Do Workers Perform at Car Washes?

In the study, most participants rotated among the few major tasks at the car wash, including drying cars (63%), brushing and soaping cars (56%), and vacuuming and cleaning cars (50%).
Occupational Health of New York City Car Wash Workers Dickens, Brittany BA; Ruiz-Olivo, Laura BA; Palaguachi, Diego BA; Jimenez, David BA; Markowitz, Steven B. MD, DrPH Author Information Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine: February 2019 – Volume 61 – Issue 2 – p e77-e79 doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001520

What Type of Complaints Can Car Wash Workers Have?

In the study, “Car wash workers reported a high prevalence of health symptoms during the 12 months prior to the survey, including at least one site of musculoskeletal pain (80%); upper airway, eye, or skin irritation (71%); and at least one lower respiratory symptom (47%) (Table 2). Approximately one-half of all workers reported eye and throat irritation, back pain, neck or shoulder pain, hand pain, headaches, or nausea/stomach discomfort. The majority of workers reported multiple symptoms across the different symptoms groups. Thirty-eight (54%) participants reported two or more musculoskeletal symptoms in the past 12 months, and 37 (53%) reported two or more types of irritation (nose bleeds, throat irritation, eye irritation/burning, skin rash, or skin burn). Two workers had suffered fractures at work in the past 12 months, and one-quarter of the work force reported a laceration or abrasion of the skin. Three workers reported an episode of asthma or an asthma attack in the past 12 months.” Occupational Health of New York City Car Wash Workers Dickens, Brittany BA; Ruiz-Olivo, Laura BA; Palaguachi, Diego BA; Jimenez, David BA; Markowitz, Steven B. MD, Dr PH Author Information Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine: February 2019 – Volume 61 – Issue 2 – p e77-e79 doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001520

What Type of Hand Movements Can Be a Source of Injury?

There are numerous tasks at Car Washes that can be a source of injury. These tasks involve Manual Handling, Awkward Hand Positions, Applying Pressure, and the use of Vibrating Tools.

Manual Handling includes “lifting, pulling, pushing, carrying and holding. Tasks that require these actions can include moving and transporting heavy equipment; everyday machines, such as vacuums; and loads, such as laundry.”

Awkward Hand Position includes “contorting hand posture to abnormal positions to clean hard-to-reach areas or slanted surfaces, such as windows. This would also include risks associated with using older or cheap spray bottles or equipment handles.”

Applying Pressure includes “pressing down or applying extra pressure to remove dirt or soil. Consider more powerful cleaning products or equipment if workers are using too much elbow grease to get the job done.”

The Use of Vibrating Equipment which includes “losing control and constant shaking. Machines that vibrate too much can cause hand fatigue, increasing the chances of workers losing control of the equipment.” . The importance of hand care in the car care industry Rich DiPaolo (2016)

Are There Chemical Exposures That Are Injurious to Car Wash Workers?

Yes. Chemicals used at Car Washes have been implicated in causing occupational illness.

“Exposure to hydrofluoric acid (HF) causes corrosive chemical burns and potentially fatal systemic toxicity. Car and truck wash cleaning products, rust removers, and aluminum brighteners often contain HF because it is efficient in breaking down roadway matter.” Reeb-Whitaker CK, Eckert CM, Anderson NJ, Bonauto DK. Occupational Hydrofluoric Acid Injury from Car and Truck Washing–Washington State, 2001-2013. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2015;64(32):874-877. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6432a4

“Occupational exposure to HF-based wash solutions can result in chemical burns, disability, and death. HF’s potential to cause severe injury.” Supra.

Are Car Wash Employees At Risk for Skin Disorders?

Yes. Cash Wash Employees suffer skin-related due to working with liquids. This type of work is called “wet work.” Zani MLC, Lazzarini R, Silva-Junior JS. W arm-water immersion foot among car wash workers. Rev Bras Med Trab. 2017;15(3):217-221. Published 2017 Sep 1. doi:10.5327/Z1679443520170021

“Wet work is characterized by activities involving frequent immersion of the hands in water, frequent or intensive hand washing or frequent use of impermeable gloves. Workers exposed to wet work might develop hand eczema and contact dermatitis”

Car Washes provide for the risk of both hand skin disorders as well as foot skin disorders. Supra.

“Prolonged contact with water causes different forms of dermatitis, including hand eczema among workers exposed to wet work3. In turn, superficial mycoses are the conditions that most commonly affect the lower limbs. However, continuous and excessive contact with water might also cause a disorder known as immersion foot or trench foot. The latter is a dermatosis that results from prolonged exposure to physical agents such as dampness and cold, and was first described among soldiers in World War I (1914-1918). ”
Supra.

What if I Need Advice?

Category Archives: wet work

JANITORS AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

CAR WASH WORKERS AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW