New cleaning techniques and equipment are progressively developed and made available on the
market. However, according to Woods, Buckle and Halsman [20], although newer and more ergonomic
cleaning systems are available on the market, companies do not always buy the best available work
equipment for their staff. This might be due to the fact that people in charge of purchasing the cleaning
equipment are often not aware of the needs of the cleaning staff, of the impact that poor ergonomic
equipment may have on workers’ health, and of the types and state-of-art equipment available on the
market. The study also deplores that cleaners are most of the time not consulted in the procurement of
cleaning tools -neither are they on the purchase of furniture in the rooms to be cleaned, nor on the
design of buildings. Seifert and Messing [58] found that even when the cleaning equipment purchased
is intended to be used by the cleaners only, they are not involved in its choice nor are they allowed to
pre-test it. Krüger et al. add that the ergonomics of cleaning tools is not evaluated and that there is a
lack of suitable and reliable methods for a systematic ergonomic assessment of these [9].
Several studies confirm that the interior of buildings is not designed so as to facilitate the cleaning work
and often requires cleaners to work in awkward postures, for example because of confined sanitary
rooms difficult to clean, poorly laying of cables behind desks obliging cleaners to squat and crawl to lift
the cables, etc. [9] [50] [52] [58].
If the cleaning tools and design of buildings have ergonomic shortcomings, this may for example have a
negative influence on the worker’s posture, make their work more strenuous, increase their workload
and consequently decreases the quality of the work. Technical specifications and cleaners’ consultation
for the purchase of cleaning equipment, workers’ training on the safe use of the equipment, proper
maintenance plan and procedures for the equipment used, and monitoring of workers’ health would
help to significantly reduce the development of MSDs in cleaners. Some tools are available to help in
the procurement of ergonomic cleaning tools. For example, a simple checklist has been developed to
assist purchasers to select the best cleaning equipment based on the results of an Australian study of
more than 3,000 cleaning workers where a number of problems with common cleaning equipment were
identified [60]. Unfortunately, it seems that even when ergonomic equipment is available, cleaners are
sometimes poorly trained or not trained at all to use the equipment, which increases the risk of being
injured [20].
In conclusion, an important risk factor in the development of MSDs seems to be the inadequacy of the
cleaning equipment and the lack of consultation with the end users - the cleaning workers - in its choice.
When it comes to choosing the cleaning equipment, workers report that they are not involved in the
procurement process, that maintenance and replacement schedules are unsuitable or not established
and the equipment is badly maintained, and that there is some uncertainty over the roles and
responsibilities of the different parties – host company or employer - regarding equipment purchase,
maintenance, and storage [54]. In addition, although in the recent years more attention has been given
to ergonomics in the sector, there are no criteria that have been established to define an “ergonomic”
working tool [6]. For example, little information exists on the “proper” design of vacuum cleaners, and
there are no criteria to customise the design of the vacuum cleaner to the needs of the user [52]. This
might complicate the task of employers and host companies in the choice of ergonomic cleaning
equipment for the companies [6]. Workers’ consultation on the choice of ergonomic equipment adapted
to their needs is all the more important considering the diversity of the cleaning workforce (e.g. women,
ageing workers) and their specific needs. Last but not least, Kumar concluded from his review of
available studies on cleaning that there are no studies adopting a global approach and assessing all
possible factors that can contribute to musculoskeletal discomfort or disorder [52].