Why custodians, janitors, and housekeepers?
Because studies indicate many cases of skin problems such as
dermatitis and allergies or cases of asthma among workers who
perform housekeeping tasks. Some phenolic disinfectants have caused
loss of skin pigmentation in workers using them without gloves. Many
cleaning products contain acids or caustic which can cause skin or eye
burns or irritations. Both male and female workers may have an
increased risk of bladder cancer due to exposure to solvents and
cleaning agents. The use of highly abrasive pads to sand or buff
asbestos floor tiles at high speeds could expose custodians to
unacceptable levels of asbestos fibers in the air.
But, if you knew in advance what problems could develop, you could
take the appropriate precautions. Much of the information in this
manual is not necessarily intended for immediate use:>:but can serve as
a future reference or resource: