Epidemiology of occupational injury among cleaners in the healthcare sector

Occup Med (Lond). 2008 Sep;58(6):393-9. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqn028. Epub 2008 Mar 19.

Abstract

Background: The cleaning profession has been associated with multiple ergonomic and chemical hazards which elevate the risk for occupational injury.

Aims: This study investigated the epidemiology of occupational injury among cleaners in healthcare work settings in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Methods: Incidents of occupational injury among cleaners, resulting in lost time from work or medical care, over a period of 1 year in two healthcare regions were extracted from a standardized operational database and with person-years obtained from payroll data. Detailed analysis was conducted using Poisson regression modeling.

Results: A total of 145 injuries were identified among cleaners, with an annual incidence rate of 32.1 per 100 person-years. After adjustment for age, gender, subsector, facility, experience and employment status, Poisson regression models demonstrated that a significantly higher relative risk (RR) of all injury, musculoskeletal injury and cuts was associated with cleaning work in acute care facilities, compared with long-term care facilities. Female cleaners were at a higher RR of all injuries and contusions than male cleaners. A lower risk of all injury and allergy and irritation incidents among part-time or casual workers was found. Cleaners with >10 years of experience were at significantly lower risk for all injury, contusion and allergy and irritation incidents.

Conclusion: Cleaners were found to be at an elevated risk of all injury categories compared with healthcare workers in general.

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Occupational / prevention & control
  • Accidents, Occupational / statistics & numerical data*
  • Adult
  • British Columbia / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Health Care Sector / standards
  • Health Care Sector / statistics & numerical data*
  • Household Products / toxicity
  • Housekeeping, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Musculoskeletal System / injuries
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Occupational Diseases / prevention & control
  • Occupational Health
  • Personnel, Hospital
  • Risk Factors
  • Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Wounds and Injuries / prevention & control
  • Young Adult