The occupational safety and health of cleaning workers

Combined exposure to Noise and Ototoxic Substances

Noise-induced hearing loss remains one of the most prominent occupational diseases in Europe. However, noise is no longer perceived as the only source of work-related hearing damage and increasing attention is being paid to the risks of combined exposure to high-level noise and ototoxic substances, that is, those which can affect the structures and/or the function of the inner ear and the associated signal transmission pathways in the nervous system. This publication aims to provide an up-to-date picture of our knowledge in this field. It includes: a description of the basic features of the physiological mechanisms leading to hearing impairment, current diagnostic tools, and an overview of the chemicals that may be deleterious to the inner ear, ranking the certainty of their ototoxic properties in a defined weight-of-evidence approach. The review also identifies the health effects resulting from exposure to multiple ototoxic substances and also from the interaction of ototoxic substances and noise, pointing out the work areas where exposure to ototoxic substances is likely. Finally, the report highlights gaps in our current knowledge for proposed future action and research.

Biological agents and pandemics: review of the literature and national policies

The biological risks related to pandemics and epidemics can affect the health of many workers, particularly in specific occupations such as workers in health care, transport services or animal breeding, and workers who contribute to contingency measures when outbreaks occur. This working paper describes the main biological risks related to pandemics and major disease outbreaks, and presents policies and practices in EU Member States in relation to how occupational safety and health (OSH) is included in the assessment, recognition, recording and prevention of major disease outbreaks and pandemics. It also contains some case studies to highlight specific occupations and biological agents, and explain how OSH policies and practices are integrated.

Factsheet 86 - Preventing harm to cleaning workers

Cleaning is carried out in every workplace. The cleaning industry itself is a growing sector, as it is a service that is increasingly being put out to tender. While there are some very large cleaning contractors, the sector is dominated by small businesses, many of which employ fewer than 10 workers. Cleaning is an essential task, and one that when done well can reduce both risks to workers’ safety and health and costs to the business, for example by extending the life of workplace equipment and furnishings, and keeping floor surfaces in good condition. In some industries such as the food and catering sectors poor cleaning can cause a business to fail.