YOUR WORKER WELFARE
MATTERS
74%
of all cleaners experience muscular aches, pain and discomfort.
(European Agency for Safety & Health At Work)
MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDER RISK FACTORS
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There are two primary risk factors that contribute to the progression of MSDs:
The loading magnitude
This is the amount of physical effort applied including the weights that are handled or the forces to be opposed.
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The exposure period
This is the length and frequency of the physical activity leading to fatigue and need for recovery.
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Over longer periods of time, these will be overarching top level factors resulting in the decrease of cleaners available to work.
According to a recent survey conducted by the European Agency for Safety & Health at Work, 74% of all interior cleaners reported experiencing muscular aches, pains and discomfort, with the most common affected area being the lower back, affecting 46% of all surveyed cleaners.
Almost all physically demanding roles lead to some form of lower back issue. This can be defined as chronic or acute in the lumbar or buttock area, such as lumbargo. Pain can also be felt in the upper leg area, commonly known as sciatica, which is a common condition where a spinal disc is pressing on the lumbar or sacral nerve roots.
These conditions will arise from the following working issues:
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Poor manual handling technique with heavy or awkwardly-shaped equipment.
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Working in awkward positions such as bending over, twisting or standing for too long.
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Using excessive force when applying pressure during scrubbing, vacuuming and mopping.
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Repetitive movement of hands, limbs and body during regular tasks.
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Contact stress when hands or limbs are used to gain balance and downforce during tasks.
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Long term effects of vibrating tools on the hands and wrists.
Floor cleaning teams can experience many, if not all, of these conditions - putting themselves at risk of long term injury and taking time off work.
20%
of UK cleaners require time off work due to aches and pains caused by cleaning equipment used in the workplace.
(European Agency for Safety & Health At Work)
COMMONLY AFFECTED AREAS​
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1. Neck (33%)
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2. Right shoulder (23%)
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3. Right wrist/hand (22%)
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4. Knees (24%)
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5. Lower back (46%)
SOLUTIONS
Many of the working conditions that lead to MSDs can be alleviated by choosing more ergonomically designed cleaning equipment. Qualities that can significantly help reduce the chances of MSDs include:
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Lightweight equipment, to prevent over-exertion during lifting and transporting.
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Adjustable/extendable handles to help maintain correct posture throughout cleaning tasks.
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Angled/swivel handles to minimise wrist strain and movement.
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Comfortable/moulded grips for hand positioning and reduced vibration from the machine.
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A low drag design can dramatically reduce the amount of push/pull force required.
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A low centre of gravity to help spread the weight of machines during lifting and transporting.
1. Many cleaning solutions are distributed via a trigger system on alternative tools and on water bottles and sprays. SHOCK has a simple on-demand targeted spray system, using a single button. This alleviates repetitive triggering which can cause long term damage to the fingers and hands.
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2. The telescopic pole adjusts to any user height to help maintain correct posture and the lightweight design makes it easy to lift and transport.
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3. The cleaning head has a low centre of gravity and a centralised yoke - this allows SHOCK to be used with a single hand, maintaining 100% surface contact and manoeuvrability - even when parallel with the floor.
There is no additional weight of power or cleaning solution on the machine, making it the lightest cleaning tool of it's kind.
The weight is built into the backpack system which is designed to evenly distribute this weight. The removal of this weight from the hands reduces the strain of pushing and pulling, drastically reducing the chances of repetitive strain injuries and potential long-term MSDs.
