Musculoskeletal ill health amongst cleaners and recommendations for work organisational change

This paper presents findings from an investigation into the musculoskeletal health of UK cleaners. It focuses on cleaning work organisation and practises, and recommendations for supervisors and managers to work with cleaners to reduce health and workplace problems. Questionnaire surveys of 1216 cleaners throughout the UK, 130 assessments of cleaning tasks and interviews with 38 cleaners at 9 workplaces were undertaken to identify potential risk factors for musculoskeletal ill health. Based on the findings of this participative study and previous research [e.g. Krüger et al., 1997. Risk Assessment and Preventive Strategies in Cleaning Work. Wirtschaftsverlag NW, Bremerhaven], recommendations were presented to groups of cleaning supervisors, managers, trainers, designers and manufacturers to ensure that advice provided for reducing musculoskeletal ill health was practical for the industry. The recommendations related to work organisational change (i.e. work scheduling and work practises such as teamwork and job extension, communication/social support networks) and organisational strategies (i.e. reporting systems for musculoskeletal ill heath; procedures for risk assessment; training programme design; equipment selection; maintenance procedures; workplace changes). This paper concentrates on only one part of the work system that influences musculoskeletal health; recommendations on musculoskeletal health and cleaning equipment design/use are reported elsewhere [Woods and Buckle, 2005. An investigation into the design and use of workplace cleaning equipment. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 35, 247–266; Woods et al., 1999. Musculoskeletal Health of Cleaners. HSE Books, Suffolk.].Relevance to industryCleaning is important, physically demanding, labour-intensive work, conducted by millions worldwide. Managers and supervisors should work with staff to improve organisation of cleaning to ensure better musculoskeletal health. The importance of organisational changes must be recognised by others in the industry (e.g. employers, contract cleaning managers, training organisations, manufacturers).