CLEAN RIGHT - CLEAN SAFE

A proper safety program is essential for today's custodial worker. Advanced technology in equipment and operations has made education a must.

A good program will increase operation productivity and eliminate workplace accidents, health insurance costs and lost man-hours due to disabilities and injuries.

While studies show that younger employees tend to have more on-the -job accidents, breaking bad habits in older workers can also be a problem. Time spent on the job can heighten safety skills simply by experience, yet managers are coming to realize that safety issues are an integral part of the younger/new employees training.

What You Can Do

• have workshop training for products your employees use
  

• encourage staff/supervisors to take safety-related courses where possible o take stock of your chemical inventory: on the market today there are many effective products which are safer for the user and pose less of a health and environmental risk
  

• back injuries are still prevalent in today's workforce; education awareness and lifting techniques can assist in preventing these types of injuries
  

• review of material safety data sheets (MSDS) for each product used
  

• personal protective equipment must be listed and used
  

• a safety award program encourages employees, safety must be constantly re-emphasized
  

• hazard communication policy tailored for your facility
  

• training is a key factor in safety as familiarity and confidence in the equipment result in safer handling An in-house safety program, whether you are using workshops, videos or newsletters, is essential in an operation of any size today.

Safety and Information Telephone #'s

City of Edmonton

• office of the environment 780-496-5993
  

• pest management services 780-496-8733

Government of Alberta

• department of health 780-427-7164
  

• environmental protection 780-944-0313
  

• WCB - Alberta 780-498-3999 - Customer Contact Centre.

Government of Canada

• environmental protection 780-951-8899
  

• workplace health and safety 1-800-263-8466
  

• health Canada - consumer product safety 780-495-2626
  

• Canadian poison control center 1-800-332-1414
  

• national safety association - health products 780-423-4672

Canada - Misc.

• WCB - BC 1-888-621-7233
  

• WCB - Man. (Wpg.) 204 - 954-4395
  

• WCB - Sask. (Reg.) 306 - 787-4370

U.S.#'S

• EPA hotline (environmental protection agency) 1-800-424-9346
  

• national safety council 1-312-527-4800
  

• substance identification 1-800-848-6538

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes a variety of products specific to the tasks custodial workers must perform. It is the responsibility of managers/owners and employers to ensure the proper protective gear is provided and used.

List of PPE

• skin creams, when used with gloves, can reduce exposure to hazardous cleaning chemicals by bonding to exfoliated cells of the skins' outer layer. The major ingredient should be water as opposed to oils, as they can compromise latex gloves and leave fingerprints on surfaces. Skin creams protect the skin and enhance clean-up by preventing substances from soaking into skin pores.
  

• goggles, respirators and protective masks should be worn when working with chemicals and toxic substances
  

• protective gloves and clothing should be worn to prevent injury or damage from spills, etc.
  

• workboots with the appropriate toe protection should be worn in accordance with the type of tasks performed Specific tasks require specific PPE and it should be provided as part of your safety program. Does your distributor provide information on product personal safety equipment?