Custodial Staff Change in Summer Workloads

Summer is the time when teachers and support staff begin a nearly three-month break from the rigors of their jobs. Summer is also a time when custodians are busy with additional cleaning to prepare the building for the upcoming school year.

During this time period, custodians’ tasks include increased heavy lifting and hazardous material handling. These changes in tasks increase a custodian’s exposure to musculoskeletal injuries, such as strains to muscles and joints — most often, the back, shoulder, and knees.

Here are some guidelines to help reduce the likelihood of injuries associated with a custodian’s summer work:

If available, use tools made to move heavy objects, like hand trucks and carts.

• When lifting, use proper body mechanics including:
  • Bend knees to lift instead of bending over.
  • Establish a good support.
  • Get a firm grip.
  • Keep the load as close to the body as possible.
  • Lift gradually.
  • Pivot, don’t twist.
  • Plan the job from origin to final destination.
  • Size up the load and keep it balanced and stable.
  • Warm up muscles by doing some light stretching.
  • Whenever possible, ask for and obtain help from others.
• Push the load, don’t pull. Pulling puts more strain on the body and reduces the line of sight.
• Good housekeeping is always an aid to safety. Keep tools’ electrical cords off the floor so
  the workplace is kept clean and orderly.
• Clean spills immediately.

Sharing these basic techniques with custodial staff can help educate custodians on the additional
hazards of their summer job activities and help minimize the injuries associated with this change in
their workload.